Deceived (21 page)

about the author

North Carolina author Laura S. Wharton writes sea adventure/suspense/mystery novels for adults and mysteries for children. Award-winning adult titles include
The Pirate’s Bastard
(historical fiction), set in colonial North Carolina on the coast; it was nominated for a Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Fiction. The award-winning
Leaving Lukens
(historical fiction) is set in 1942 as World War II encroaches on a small North Carolina coastal village. Her newest mystery,
In Julia’s Garden,
will be released in 2015
.

She’s also the author of four mysteries for children, including
Mystery at the Phoenix Festival
,
the award-winning series,
Mystery at the Lake House #1: Monsters Below
, and
Mystery at the Lake House #2: The Mermaid’s Tale
, and
The Wizard’s Quest.
All of Laura’s books involve adventure, fun, a little history, and sailboats. (Laura is a recovering sailor who could backslide at any moment!) Laura Wharton lives in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, with her husband and son, fellow author William Wharton.

Learn more about Laura and her books at
www.LauraWhartonBooks.com.

acknowledgments

I hope you have enjoyed reading this book as much as I enjoyed writing it. I thank the following people who contributed their expertise and support: the kind folks at Broad Creek Press, most excellent editor, Tyler Tichelaar, and Fusion Creative Works for their cover and interior design.

A shout-out is necessary for the service men and women who lose their lives in the line of duty battling villains like the ones in this book. Whether they be police officers, firefighters, or military personnel, they do what the rest of us can barely comprehend—and all because it’s the right thing to do.

No story would be complete without saying a huge thank you to my parents, who have always shared with me their love of the English language. Growing up in a house full of music, love, and laughter, I quickly learned the value of a good story, a snappy comment, and the proper timing for a well-crafted punch line to a joke. May the fun stories never end!

—Laura S. Wharton
2015