One step begets the troubadour.

Briar Hedge began on a Tuesday...

Actually, today is Thursday, but let's not get caught up on details. This venture has taken years to come together, built lovingly and painstakingly in the scant little free time that we have between work, kids, family, life and all the procrastinating us creatives can do.

But it has begun. With one little step we have set our course upon the road and are venturing forth into the big, scary world yonder. Before our untimely demise in the maw of a dragon, let us take a moment to blame... er, thank... those who got us here.

Our families, of course, including our hell-spawn children we are stuck with and somehow still love while slaving to provide for, as well as our partners and spouses, who get less of our time than the books we create. A thanks also to our friends, who tolerate our madness during the infrequent times we actually drag ourselves away to meet up with them. To colleagues, mentors and compatriots, past and present, who've not all survived the journey but were still a scathing part of it. And, lastly, to you; our beloved readers. We both love and hate you more than everyone else aforementioned. You are the mysterious strangers entering our worlds, who come willingly and with eyes filled with wonder into our fantasies, ready to see them for the first time and shred them like so much toilet paper. To the creative, nothing is more treasured, horrifying and motivating than an earnest reader.

In that spirit, let me specifically thank all those who have signed up to Briar Hedge during our modest launch and downloaded our first little book, Tom Wolfbriar's 'Skin in the Game'. As of writing, there are 1,169 of you. That is more people than all of us here combined have every known and we're all jealous that Tom has had up to as many as 2,338 eyeballs on his work. If we counted glasses, that could be a lot more.

In sincere hope and love, we welcome you. We have cherished every single message you've sent, even the crazy ones, and have been absolutely floored by the interest and support you've shown in our work. We look forward to launching our first full book (very shortly) and many more after that.

It may not be Tuesday, but it is a very good day.