The journey of this book has been years long. It is truly a labor of love that began with fragments of ideas that eventually became a coherent story. Its inception began as I researched material I was using for a graduate course that I wrote in Environmental Education. As I read numerous topics regarding the history of the earth to the present, I couldn’t help but be struck by the incredible responsibility that humans have with regard to the current state of the planet and its future. Our actions as a species have indisputable repercussions. We are experiencing an array of such consequences today. One critical outcome has been the decline of a common resource in many parts of the world: fresh water. So I began to wonder, what if a drought of unprecedented proportions crept across the globe?
The idea behind the Drought Mitigation Corporation, or DMC, came from the knowledge that there are always those people who will take advantage of a dire situation for their own gain. I wondered how far such people might go in pursuit of ultimate control and power. I wanted to create an image that truly reflected the belief that power over nature is attainable. Each element in the DMC logo I created has specific meaning.
The triangle is a symbol of earth and the horizontal line is a symbol of water. Across both of these representations is a bold, vertical stripe, which symbolizes power. The completed symbol is the representation of the DMC: power over the land and water. But one has to wonder, can mankind truly have this type of power?
The path a book takes, from the seedlings of ideas to an actual story, is not without numerous helping hands. The four men in my life have been of profound importance and I couldn’t have seen this through without their unconditional support. I’m especially grateful for the hours of editing, bottles of wine, chocolate confections, back rubs, and general boy-humor that have helped me get through the ups and downs of the writing process. I am also blessed with friends who have been willing to play the parts of editor, cover designer, and fan club (minus the pompoms). I’m also grateful to my team who believe this unicorn is so magical that she can s*** rainbows. I give a special thank you to Karana for posing as Enora for the cover. Thank you to my editor, David Taylor at theditors.com, you have helped me fulfill my vision.
And to my loving parents who believe I can do anything, even write a book.