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By Root 1557 0

life: thank you. The special mission world is close-knit and very unique. Writing for publication of any sort is frowned upon, but some friends agreed to read the manuscript to make sure I hadn’t said anything that would compromise the safety of those still in harm’s way—namely themselves. I say agreed, not supported, because my name on the cover is irritating enough.

A huge thank-you goes out to Dutton publishing and my editor, Ben Sevier. Honestly, I was worried when I signed the contract that I’d also sold my soul. I had visions of this big-name publisher ordering me to change everything in it that I held dear. Far from it, Ben took the manuscript to the next level, coaching, mentoring, and providing invaluable guidance. Again, I found myself learning.

Unlike what I originally naively believed, getting a book published entails more than just hitting print. Although that’s certainly an option, I’m grateful that the Dutton team chose not to take that route and have relentlessly supported the effort to see this succeed.

Finally, I’d like to publicly thank my wife, Elaine. One, for not losing her mind at the risk of leaving the military for a writing career, and two, for fixing all of my knuckle-dragging mistakes before anyone else had a chance to read them. When we were first married, she started a tally of what I owed her for various deployments and problems she was forced to solve in my absence, all based on the size of a diamond. I’m up to forty-three carats, which is roughly the size of the Hope diamond. So, if you see me in the Smithsonian “researching diamonds” for my “next book,” you’ll know why. Just don’t turn me in when it comes up missing. I love you.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brad served for more than twenty-one years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel. During that time he held numerous infantry and special operations positions, including eight years in 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment—Delta where he commanded multiple troops and a squadron. He has conducted operations in support of U.S. national interests in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other classified locations. He holds a master’s of science in defense analysis with a concentration in irregular warfare from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. When not writing, Brad serves as a security consultant on asymmetric threats to various agencies. He currently lives in Charleston, South Carolina, with his wife and two daughters.