ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Ever since I was eight years old, I have wanted to write novels or screenplays. I have yet to write a movie or television script, but this is my fifteenth novel and I want to express my deepest appreciation to those who have helped make this one a reality.

Scott Miller has been my agent and my good friend since agreeing to represent my first novel, The Last Jihad —he and the Trident Media Group are without a doubt the gold standard in the world of literary agents.

The Tyndale House publishing team is the finest in the business —Mark Taylor, Jeff Johnson, Ron Beers, Karen Watson, Jeremy Taylor, Jan Stob, Elizabeth Jackson, Andrea Garcia, Maria Eriksen, Caleb Sjogren, Danika King, the entire sales force, and all the remarkable professionals who make Tyndale an industry leader. And a special shout-out to Erin Smith for her wonderful copyediting assistance and especially to Dean Renninger, who continues to design amazing covers for my novels.

Our award-winning PR team —Larry Ross, Kristin Cole, and Kerri Ridenour and their colleagues —is first-rate and a joy to work with.

Nancy Pierce and June “Bubbe” Meyers are my rock-star teammates at November Communications, Inc. —they continue to handle everything from my schedules to flights to finances and a great deal more, and with them I am in very kind and capable hands.

Every year that goes by, I am even more grateful to my parents, Len and Mary Jo Rosenberg, and to all of my extended family and Lynn’s, for their love and grace, wise counsel and prayers, and all the fun and laughs we have together.

The same is true of our four sons: Caleb —and his beautiful wife, Rachel —Jacob, Jonah, and Noah. I am proud to be your dad and love all the adventures and challenges we face together.

Most of all, I want to thank my dear wife, Lynn. She was just eighteen when we met at Siberacuse —I mean, “No Excuse” —er, rather, Syracuse University. I was only nineteen. Through those long, bitter central New York winters, we became the best of friends and then fell deeply in love. We married in her adorable little church in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, on June 30, 1990 —just weeks after her graduation —and this year we will celebrate our thirtieth wedding anniversary. I’ve said it before but I happily repeat myself: Lynn is my best friend in the world and there is no one whose love or advice or affection and companionship I could possibly cherish more than hers. May the Lord give us another thirty years —and many, many more.