Patrick E. Blau

Born and raised in Northeast Ohio, I spent my first forty-six years living in that area. After vacationing twice in southern France, I had made the decision to move to France just before I met my now wife, Sarah. Some people would call it luck, but I know better than that. God brought Sarah and I together to make each other's acquaintance at the right moment, and He took it from there. With our willing participation, of course!

Currently and for the foreseeable future we live in France, in a small village named Saint-Paul. It's a good stones throw away from the Neste river, nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains, about a half hour from the border of Spain as the crow flies. The bells of the church here in Saint-Paul still ring every hour, on the hour, with one sound of the bell every half hour. I find that I appreciate that more as time goes on.

There has always been a simmering notion in the corners of my brain to begin a book of some sort, and during the virus lockdowns I finally took the initiative to make it a reality, just like throngs of other people all over the world, I'm sure. I find ideas for storylines are best realized when I'm mowing grass on my riding mower. Just seems to work best that way for me. This book has an important message in it for everyone, as long as you have eyes to see and ears to hear. And it will be that way for any future book that I may be led to create, too.

This book was a project that I undertook out of love, and out of gratitude. I don't wish to be rich, and this book will perhaps never make me so. And that's okay! Because God and I have a deal. For many years now there have been two things that I have asked of Him, and He has been faithful in:

'Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion; That I not be full and deny You and say, "Who is the Lord?" Or that I not be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God.'

May God bless you and yours, and thank you for reading!