I, for one, like to know exactly what I am getting into before I embark on an adventure, unless of course the night is young and my judgment marred by substance. If you are not this type of individual and enjoy surprises, however jarring they may be, then by all means skip this short note and begin. Do not worry; I believe you to be just as astute as any other reader.
For those of you who fall into the former camp, I’d like to bring to your attention the fact that this is a novel of historical fiction. Most of these characters do not exist, and those that have, either placed in my novel on purpose or by some accident, are purely figments of dramatization. This isn’t to say it is all untrue; I will leave it up to the reader to make that distinction. Unlike most historical fiction novels, however, this is not some hulking beast of a novel in which the author tries to squeeze every last drop out of a certain moment in time. This isn't even a novel that aims to transport you to a faraway place; I can guarantee the reader that my description of a Mississippi morning is beyond flawed (I apologize profusely to the locals).
Above all else, this novel is the story of a man. Some of you will find him appalling; some relatable; a great deal many of you will find him both. I truly hope you enjoy his journey as well as your own between the lines of men.
Travis Russell