THE STORY
BEHIND
THE STORY

Welcome.

You have probably read the blurb about the book on the home page, so you know the general storyline. But why did I write the book? I can honestly say that I do not know. I read the Bible. I read technical manuals for work, and that's about it. I don't enjoy reading, so for me to write a book makes little sense. While I cannot tell you why I wrote the book, I can tell you the circumstances that led me to write the book.

I was in my forties, had a good job and was raising a family with my second wife. But something was missing. I started going to church and eventually joined the church choir. But I was still searching for something. I was baptized and began to read the Bible. But reading the Bible frustrated me because I didn't understand what I was reading, and the Bible appeared to be full of contradictions. So I began writing the book as an outlet for my frustration. But there is another part of the equation that you need to know. I suffer from chronic depression. I've been taking medicine for several years now and believe you me; a medicated Nick is more fun to be around than that other fellow.

But how did my depression contribute to the creation of the book? The depression itself didn't, but the medication that I was taking did. I have never had such clarity of mind. The Bible still confused me, but instead of just mulling over my lack of understanding day after day, I began to question what I was reading. Eventually, all of the questions became one simple question. Does Jesus have to die on every planet, in every solar system, in every galaxy in the entire universe throughout all of time?

Okay, maybe it isn't that simple of a question. It assumes that God created life on other planets before He created life on Earth. It also assumes that He will continue to create life on other planets long after the sun has consumed Earth. But I needed an answer to the question. So, I began to create one possible answer. I wrote the first and last chapters of the book. I ask my wife to read what I had written and then I ask her what she thought. She encouraged me to fill in the missing chapters. So I did.

I worked on the book for three years. I'd write a while and then quit for weeks. Then I'd start writing again. After three years, I began to wonder if anybody would be interested in publishing my book. Was there any merit in what I was saying? Thus began my quest to find a literary agent. I was clueless about what it took to get published. I became buddies with words like 'synopsis', 'query letter' and 'genre'. Oh boy!!! But I wasn't getting any closer to having my book published.

After a year and a half of being rejected, I was ready to quit. But my wife, bless her soul, told me to keep trying. Then one day, she told me about a local author who had a book published through Publish America. She urged me to check into them. I visited their website, www.publishamerica.com, and sent what was going to be my last query letter. I was finished. I was going to pay a friend to print and bind one copy of the book. But Publish America foiled my plans; they didn't send a rejection letter. They requested additional information. Next they requested the entire novel. Then they requested that I sign a contract. WOW!!!

I know, TMI. But now you know the story behind the story. The story about a book that would not have been possible without God, depression and a wife that never doubted my ability to tell the story.

Just for the record, I believe in one God. I believe that Jesus is the only Son of God. I believe that we crucified Jesus, buried Him and left Him for dead. I believe that He rose from the dead. Through His sacrifice, God offers us the gift of salvation. I have accepted that gift. I hope you have, too. I still have many questions, but the answers can wait until I stand before the Lord. After all, everything unfolds along His timeline, not ours.

Peace be with you, now and always......Nick Leigh

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