From the Author
At one point in A Piece of Time, Lilly--the maincharacter--exclaims: "And then the lightswent out!"
What lights?
When?
Why?
The simple truth is that, sooner or later, the lights are going togo out for each of us. Death isinevitable, and almost as certain as death is our curiosity about it.But this book is not so much about death as it is about life: Your life,my life, ticking away on this sphere called Earth. Putting religiousskepticism, agnostic beliefs, or other concerns aside, we are all occupants onthis planet, and this book has been written for us, the living.
For every religion out there--Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism,Judaism, Sikhism-- there is a different belief about what awaits us when weexit this planet and walk behind that dark curtain. Even among Christian religions there arevarying beliefs as to what Heaven holds for us. Within these pages is mypersonal take of what awaits us. I may have it wrong, but--if so--I am ingood company.
My fascination with an after-life began while in college. I read George G. Ritchie's Return FromTomorrow (you will find Lilly having a few similar experiences). Dr. Ritchie's book is wonderful and it fueledmy own personal quest to know. Since then, I have read countless near-deathexperiences (NDEs) of individuals who have stepped over that threshold, throughthat curtain, and then returned.None of these people are quacks; they are ordinary people who have hadextra-ordinary experiences. And all of those who stepped over thatthreshold--just to return--valued their lives more, desired to live their livesmore fully.
As I studied, I made a list of the many similarities in theirdescriptions of where they were, who they met, what they did there, and whythey needed to return to their life here.The majority of the similarities are within these pages. I so verymuch appreciate the up- close and personal experiences these various authorsshared with me. Reading their life stories simply confirmedwhat I have always sensed: Our deathwill be just a continuation of our life. And, for good or bad, we takeourselves with us. The circumstances may be different as to how we step overthat threshold, but it IS just one step over.
Death is inevitable, as is that intense pain we struggle to carry when we losea loved one. For many, the death of someone close compels us to think about anafter-life. It does not matter if oneis a believer or a non-believer; the loss of a loved one puts us all on thesame playing field. We lost a part of us, and--for a piece of time--wherethat loved one went, we cannot go.
Yes, death is inevitable. The simple truth is that, sooner or later, thelights are going to go out for each of us. Or are they? What if, instead,the light comes on?
Whatever conclusion you may come to, I hope that conclusion willserve to help you value your life, in the here and now, that much more.We can thrive in this life; we can know joy here. And that is what I wishfor you; that is what I wish for all of us.
- Victoria Fielding
About the Author
Victoria Fielding is a mother of six, an educator, and awriter. She is currently the academic director of a residential treatmentcenter for troubled teens in Utah. It is there that she works with someof the best kids in the world. Victoria has had a life-long career inpublic and private education, having taught all ages, but mostly high-energyteens (and she still has her sense of humor--amazing!). As a classroomfacilitator, she has trained professionals in the use of various softwarepackages. Also, she was the state director for Kaplan, a national testprep company.
Victoria has lived a full and abundant life. Herlife experience provides much of the background for this novel. Victoriais also mindful of all her ancestors, some of whom play a role in A Piece of Time. Her great, greatgrandmother, Sarah, really did lose her best friend on the plains; Lillie--wholoved Teancum dearly-- really did misplace herbutton, which became a fob for her father-in-law's watch; the farm house doesexist, as well as the attic bedroom and the card-table gone mad. Lastly,departed loved-ones have indeed returned to warn, to reassure, and to inspirethe discovery of a golden find in a barn loft.
Victoria's real claim to fame is her family of sixawesome kids, their spouses, her two grand-daughters, and all of her othergrandchildren waiting to take their turn on earth. When she isn't workingwith kids or playing with her grandkids, Victoria loves to hike, garden,write, dance, scrapbook, and eat chocolate (yes, she's addicted tochocolate).
It is Victoria's sincere hope that when the last pagehas been read and the book cover closed, you will recall all the times YOU havebeen prompted, directed, warned, and comforted. WHO are your guardianangels?
