This will not end the way you think.

I am a writer and philosophy professor. I live in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley—or, as I like to think of it, Virginia’s take on the Shire. When I’m not there, I’m usually lost in my fantasy world of Aia. If you have a minute or two, I’d love to introduce you to a small part of it.

From
Tome’s Quest

Tome went to bed in the World and woke up outside of it. He knew it without knowing how. It wasn’t a dream, but the panic still slept, so he rose and went to his bedroom door.

The door was locked. There was no keyhole, much less a key, but there was a scroll pinned at eye level. The ink was so thick and fresh it trailed down the page, smearing the words below. He read quickly.

This

Will

Not

End

The

Way

You

Think.

The door handle clicked as the last syllable left Tome’s mind.