Deep Blue (The Mermaid Chronicles Book 1) (21 page)

             
They lay together all day and watched the red sun set. She hoped that Adam would be on his boat tomorrow, enjoying the sea the only way he knew how. Finn leapt into the water and she leapt after him. They set out, not to learn about each other, but to learn the world, and how to be happy now that they knew each other. Their song had such a slight hint of sadness that you would hardly know the horrors they had seen.

             
They danced together in the water with the multitude of life around them, following the setting sun.

             
I suppose I could begin by thanking everyone who helped me get this here. Truth be told, I don’t even think it’s done, but to a writer nothing is ever good enough.  The reason it is here has a name, and that name is Cpl. Jacob H. Turbett. For Jake. This was the last novel I wrote that he knew about. I had just finished the first draft by January 13, 2010, and I figured this would be a good place to start.

             
My little brother and I grew up always knowing where we wanted to be when we were adults. He wanted to be in the military and I wanted to be a published author. That little boy grew up to be a Marine, and was the only person who
believed in me unconditionally
. He would introduce me to his fellow Marines as “my sister, the writer.” My dreams grew to include possible placement in the film industry, but never changed from the original “published author” bit, making a living by writing. Unfortunately, I dallied with college and a billion other things and he never saw my dreams come to fruition.

             
Jake was killed in action on February 13, 2010, during the first push into Marjeh, Afghanistan.
He was 21 years old.
I got a wake-up call, though for a while I was too distraught to see it. Now the first book of the Mermaid Chronicles,
Deep Blue
, becomes reality, hopefully with many more stories to follow. For Jake. I’d also like to thank Maria Vander Meulen, my amazing editor, and
my friend Laura Klement for
standing on the northern Oregon coastline in the middle of winter, in a bikini; just to get me a good cover for my book.

             
Thank you for believing in me.
I will always believe in you.

Cpl. Jacob H. Turbett—My Hero

Jaime E. Turbett currently resides in Portland
,
Oregon, with her two
cats
and
her
boyfriend. She
loves to spend
her days, reading, writing,
adding to her movie collection,
and playing cello with a local orchestra.

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