Like many of you, I fell in love with words well before I could read or write them. Stories. Other joys of my early childhood — tree climbing, fort building, fishing with my granddaddy, riding around with my dad to visit his cronies — pale when compared to tucking in with my mother to hear stories, either from books or, far better, stories of her own. She wasn’t the only one who taught me the pleasures of a good story well told and unhurried, but she was the first. My wish is that Untying the Moon does her proud.

While we’re waiting for the book’s publication in October, I invite you to explore these pages and share your thoughts. I really appreciate your interest and hope to see you out there on the “Bailey Trail” book tour.