After finishing Brothers Forever, I spent several subsequent months brainstorming a second book project with my wonderful agent, E. J. McCarthy, and my trusted editor, Robert Pigeon. Despite some strong leads, we still hadn’t been able to find that brilliant, special idea in the spring of 2015.
During one particular phone call with E. J., I got an e-mail from one of my oldest friends, Brad Allen. I had known Brad since third grade, when we were both growing up just outside our nation’s capital in Vienna, Virginia.
After that spring 2015 phone call with my agent, I replied to Brad Allen’s e-mail, which contained a video link to an inspiring story about another Brad, who was an Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran and Paralympic gold medalist. As I would soon learn, Brad Snyder was also the nephew of Brad Allen’s father, Chuck Allen.
“Uncle Chuck” subsequently put Brad Snyder and me in touch. I want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you, Chuck, for not only your dedicated service to our country, but for your instrumental contribution in helping make Fire in My Eyes a reality.
During my first phone call with Brad Snyder, I instantly knew that he was a real-life American hero with an incredible story to tell. Working with this wounded veteran and Paralympic champion has been the best experience of my career, and I hope you—the reader—are as inspired by Brad’s courage as I am. Thank you, Brad, for allowing me to help you make this book the best that it could be. Your remarkable story of sacrifice is a testament to the courage of America’s veterans.
I am eternally thankful for the counsel and friendship of the best literary agent in the world, E. J. McCarthy, for seeing the potential in not only Fire in My Eyes and Brothers Forever, and but in me as an author. It has been equally thrilling to work with Robert Pigeon, Lissa Warren, Kevin Hanover, Sean Maher, and the entire Da Capo Press/Perseus Books Group team on a second project. I feel truly blessed to be learning from the best people in the publishing business.
Thank you to my wife, Lisa, for your patience, hard work, and unconditional love, to which I owe my entire career as an author. Thank you to our young daughter, Reagan, for lighting up our lives. Thank you to my mom, Diane, and my dad, Dr. Bob, for making sure that I grew up with a good education, strong family, and appreciation of life.
Thank you to my grandparents, Canio, Hedy, Clarence, and Betty, for all that you sacrificed during World War II. You taught me what it means to be an American.
Thank you to all US service members, veterans, and military family members—especially those who have lost a loved one—who have trusted me to help tell your stories in book and column form. You are the real-life American heroes that my daughter will grow up learning about.
Finally, thank you to Brad Allen for your enduring friendship. This once in a lifetime opportunity to work on Fire in My Eyes would never have come to fruition without you. Most importantly, thank you for helping me make another great friend named Brad.