The great philosopher Dietrich von Hildebrand once said that if beauty and goodness are separated, then a curious disembodiment of the culture takes place. Goodness becomes abstract and merely moral, perhaps even boring; and beauty appears to be mere sensual glamour, a distractions, and perhaps even evil. For of course, said von Hildebrand, goodness and beauty are in their essences the same thing. As human beings, we need goodness to be incarnated in beauty so that we can more easily love goodness.

After I pondered these words for some time, I began to wonder: how could you possibly cure someone for whom goodness is boring? As a cradle Catholic, I had grown up knowing many jaded Christian teenagers who were sure that they knew “all about that stuff,” Christianity, and they were sick and tired of it. To them, goodness was truly boring. What could be done for them?

To try to figure out the answer, I wrote this novel.

So right at the beginning, I have to acknowledge my debt to von Hildebrand, whose thoughts set me on this path, and also to Dr. Benjamin Wiker, who pointed out the disastrous consequences to the soul who finds goodness boring. Without the writings of these two men, this book would not exist.

I’m also very grateful, one again, to the collage of friends and family who helped me with this book, primarily my own brothers and sisters, and my friends Ben Hatke, Nicholas Marmalejo, and Andrew O’Neil. Ben helped me with the juggling parts, Nick helped me with the aikido, and they both helped Andy choreograph that marvelous fight scene at the climax of the book. I’m never going to forget watching them stage the battle in the living room of our old house: truly memorable!

Again, my old friend Dr. Frank helped me with the medical facts for the book, and my chiropractor Dr. Scott Berman helped me with the “alternative medicine” parts. My brother Paul Doman (Captain, National Guard) and friend Rich Morgan (Retired Senior Master Sergeant, Air Force) assisted with the military scenes. Rick and his wonderful wife Cathy, who are parents of teenaged girls, also gave me useful and illuminating recommendations on parenting. (Cathy and her daughter Caitlin also sent over two delicious dinners during the final editing stretch, which was a wonderful blessing!) And although I had Rachel ask her father not to share his insights with his friends at the start of Chapter 18, I am grateful that writer Elizabeth Foss chose to share her own epiphany on parenting teenagers with her readers, since it partially inspired that scene.

Jean Vencil, Elizabeth Hausladen, and Pastor Greg Wright all helped me enormously by reading the book and commenting on the Protestant aspects in the story. So did Ken Fast (a former Mennonite). As a Catholic, I am grateful for their perspective.

Special thanks to Caroline Miller for modeling for the cover photo. All other images were courtesy of iStock Photo, and almost all the fonts were from the great calligraphers at the Scriptorium. Two exceptions were the title font (A Yummy Apology) and the Little People dancing under the moon. The latter is a freeware font created by Emerald City Fontwerks. All fongs and images were used with permission.

Other readers who gave wonderful advice included Micheala Berquist, Anna Hatke, Alyssa Hichborn, Katie Tietjen, Mary Clare Robinson, and Nance and Sarah Brown. And I must give a special note of thanks to screenwriter and writing instructor Janet S. Batchler who wnet over and over my opening scene with me until it worked. Since I tried for five years to fix it on my own, I am so very grateful.

I cannot begin to express my gratitude to my husband Andrew, who put many hours into editing and revising this book, as well as arguing to convince me to tighten rambling or unnecessary scenes. I owe him so much.

My children Caleb, Rose, Marygrace, Thomas, Joan, and Polly were also so patient with me during this whole process. Also I am sure my son Joshua was praying for me from Heaven. I’m thankful for all of them.

And most of all I’m grateful to the man Who is the only person I know who can cure us of the illusion that goodness is boring: my Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ. It was a privilege to write this book. I am glad to have been given this story to tell.