I wrote The Journeyman to thank all those who have lost a loved one in the war in Iraq.  When I finished the book, about 3,000 Americans had been killed in Iraq.  The book is not about the war; it is about an Iraqi boy who strives to follow his hope and dreams on a journey towards becoming what we in America call "an entrepreneur."  The book, an allegorical fable of sorts, invokes the teachings of some of the greatest entrepreneurs, across the globe, across all times, as the boy struggles to find his way through Iraq, and ultimately, Baghdad.

 

I am neither a soldier, a veteran nor a politician; nor am I connected to the war in anyway, except for the fact I am an American citizen and the son of a soldier.  I wanted to write a story for those who have lost a son or daughter or husband or wife or mom or dad or friend or family member in the war.  The Journeyman is that story.  It is the only gift I know how to give to these heroic families, to write about the hope that our brave men and women have enabled for millions of strangers across the globe.

 

I also created a new website at www.journeymanbook.com to help me locate the families of these fallen soldiers.  My goal is to mail them each a copy of my book at no charge, as my small token of gratitude for their enormous sacrifice.  I want to personally dedicate a book to each one of these families.  That is my goal.

 

Why did I write a book to dedicate to the men and women who have died so far away from home?  The story I wanted to tell is a story about freedom, the opportunity to pursue one's dreams, the fable of entrepreneurism. Regardless of the rhetoric of our times, our soldiers have not died in vain; they have died in the name of freedom.  The story of The Journeyman is possible because of this ultimate sacrifice.

 

Please help me locate these families so that I may send this small expression of gratitude.  Of course, I hope that you might too read The Journeyman, or perhaps send the book as a gift to your friends.  Some of my friends are sending it out as a gift to others, since proceeds from the book will also be donated to charities supporting the families of the fallen. 

 

Some of us can envision a future beyond the war, beyond the struggle, a time when the great people of that region may one day have the wondrous opportunities of entrepreneurism that we have enjoyed since the birth of our young country.  

 

If you are ordering copies from amazon.com to send to the families of servicemen or servicewomen killed in the Iraq war, please let me know (or fill out the contact form) so that I may also send a special dedication.  Please ask permission of those families prior to forwarding any contact information.

 

Thank you for your heartfelt generosity and support.  RG

 

 

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