Unfortunately, the part about Oswulf’s Stone disappearing is true. After it was dug up, it lingered in the area for some time before being removed permanently. No known record mentions who took it, where it went, or even precisely when it disappeared. That said, it is unlikely the stone ever made its way to the United States, and it is impossible for it to be located in the Chokecherry Bluff Cemetery within the city of Mount Herod, primarily because neither of those locations actually exist in real life.
The author strongly encourages anyone with an interest in any of the historical subjects mentioned in this novel to visit the non-fiction section of a library or bookstore for more information. Such a person may be surprised by what they find, for as Lord Byron famously wrote: “Truth is always strange; stranger than fiction.”
Thank you to my wife and daughters for tolerating the early morning clicks of the keyboard and grumbling of the coffee maker.
Special thanks to my wife for her patience while she waited 12 months for the final 24 chapters of this novel. Deanna acts as both a developmental editor and beta reader for my work. You can thank her for keeping you from suffering through my worst ideas and words.
Thank you to my cover artist and wonderfully talented oldest daughter, Jerzey. You can find more of her art on Instagram @jerzeypopp.
Finally, thank you Kathy (Kat) Schuknecht, my sister-in-law and copy editor. Kat provided the polish for this novel, and she did wonderful work, work which elevates the quality of the novel and I am proud to publish.
I am blessed to have a loving and talented family helping me live a dream and making sure the world only sees the best of me. Without the support of my family, this novel would be but a shadow of the work you hold in your hands.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead (or walking dead), or actual events is purely coincidental.
The trademarks and other intellectual property mentioned in this novel are listed below and were used only to make the story feel more authentic through nominative fair use. No attempt was made to endorse or defame or dilute any product.
BOY SCOUT® is a registered trademark of Boy Scouts of America.
GIRL SCOUT® is a registered trademark of Girl Scouts of the United States of America.
GOOGLE® is a registered trademark of Google Inc.
MICKEY MOUSE® is a registered trademark of Disney Enterprises, Inc.
V8® is a registered trademark of CSC Brands, LP.
Bible verses were quoted from THE HOLY BIBLE, KING JAMES VERSION, which is public domain in the United States.
Curse of the Black-Eyed Kids (Mount Herod Legends Book 2) Page 24