Stories have incredible power. It took me a long time to finally realize this. Stories impact so much of our lives. Families tell stories at the dinner table to feel more connected, salesmen tell stories to convince you their product is worth buying, interviewers ask the question, "tell me about yourself" because they want to hear a story compelling enough to persuade them you're the right man or woman for the job. Stories are at the foundation of our faith, whether it be in a more traditional religion or a non-theistic belief. We follow the stories we find most convincing, and we'e motivated by the stories that speak to our hearts.

There is no limit to what a well-written story can do.

Why am I telling you this?

Because the why is more important than the how. Chances are, when you started reading this book you weren't looking for an author, you were looking for a good story. So I could ramble on about my background in music, data analytics, ministry, and how it all led me to becoming an author, but at the end of the day, what matters more? How I became an author or why I am an author?

I tell stories because stories have power. And I'd like to use that power to make a difference in the world. But if I can't reach the whole world, I'd like to at least reach yours, if you'd let me.

States & Stories: I traveled all over the states by train, car, and flight, for over 4 years, and I was writing the Emerson Chronicles the entire time. It was an awesome experience because my characters got to experience new places at the same time I was, and what they experienced in the different cities was highly influenced by what I experienced. If you'd like to see a photo gallery from my trip, head over to my website (dprowell.com) and click the blog. I included brief descriptions of how each city specifically influenced the cities and landscape in different parts of Yutara.