I feel like an astronaut approaching launch day, ready to depart for the Moon, or Mars.

I’ve devoted planning and preparation to this event for years, with my goal always safely far in the future. Now, as the moment of truth arrives, I climb to the top of the rocket – a staggering construct of complexity, ingenuity, and vision that will carry me to the next stage of my journey. My body is a cacophony of emotions: excitement, relief, and joy, as well as mind-numbing terror. No matter how much I’ve prepared, the launch is still a leap into the unknown.

On August 26, my debut novel – The Tree House – will release to the world via Amazon. This is a journey ten years in the making, growing from the first pages of the short story I wrote, blossoming into a book about to be published. Even with all of the time, the struggle of words, edits, revisions, and the unending care I’ve poured into this work, I still to look around sure that I’ve missed something. I’m certain the reality of this impending adventure has yet to settle into place. The countdown continues.

There are days when the terror outweighs the thrill of becoming an author. Will readers like my work? Was all the effort truly worth it? Will the magic of my story find a home? The uncertainty eats at me, but I believe it will all wash away once I hold the book in my hands. My book.

I’m carried, not by thoughts of notoriety, or potential financial gain, but rather by love and support of my family – my wife Francesca and my daughter Skylar – who understand the fire burning inside me, who accept that weekends are for writing, and who tolerate when it occupies a large corner of my thoughts – there wouldn’t be a book without them. My wealth also lies in my friends who offer their time and support, reading pages, listening to my endless thoughts and ideas, and encouraging me to keep going.

This impending launch day is not just for me, but for everyone who contributed to this book, given a part of their time and themselves to help realize this dream.