“I must have been five or maybe six years old when I was first thrust into the land of story telling and the possibilities that live in the wonders of the imagination. However, being the youngest of five boys, it was not a willing plunge.

I remember it like it was yesterday. My brother Rick, who has an amazing imagination, was explaining to me what the "Dead Man's Dull" was.

"It's a place where truly evil people go when they die, David. And do you want to know where that place is?" he paused for effect, "It is right under your bed!"

Of course, I did not believe him. How could this place exist? I laughed it off as any typical six year old would. I looked down at my GI Joe with life like hair (hey, those were very popular back then, we didn't have Xboxes, so try to imagine "Call of Duty" but in 3D...sort of) and placed a gun in his hand, wanting to return to my battle.

"You don't believe me, do you David? How about you find out tonight then? Why don't you stick your arm over the edge of your bed and see how real the Dead Man's Dull truly is?"

I don't remember much of what happened that day, but I do remember that night. My brother Gerald whispered over to me, "David, are you going to see if the Dead Man's Dull is real?"

I had to accept the challenge now; it was a matter of honor. What would my GI Joe do? I mean, really, he had Kung Fu Grip and high expectations. How could I look him in the eye again if I shrunk back from this challenge?

Darkness changes perception and what was laughable in the day light becomes down right terrifying at night. I reluctantly put my leg over the edge of the bed; just a few toes at first. I could feel the cool air on them as they peaked out from under the protection of my blanket.

Nothing happened, so what's the big deal?

My courage increased so I ventured out more. Now, with my whole leg, exposed, victoriously I allowed it to dangle free. GI Joe, are you seeing this? I am bravery personified! I am a warrior! I am...

Something had my ankle.

Suddenly I was being pulled down into the depths of the Dead Man's Dull. I grabbed onto my blanket with my "Kung Fu Grip" yet it gave way and down I plunged into the depths of darkness. My imagination ignited and fought against my reason. I could hear the screams of the phantoms that lived beneath my bed. Much to the delight of my laughing brothers, I was terrified.

Some times it is not easy being the youngest.

Out of the many pranks and adventures my brother Rick would bring me through in the coming years, that one sticks in my mind the most. It has become part of the Ianetta boys’ folklore to this day. It made its impression on me and from then on, I will never forget the power of myth and imagination. Not to mention, I would be eighteen years old before I could sleep with an arm hanging over the edge of my bed again.

During the years that followed I exercised my creativity as a musician and poet. Ideas for stories would come, but I had not found my story yet. All of them would start out strong; yet never strong enough to get past a few chapters before dying out as I lost interest.

But then I had my own "dark night of the soul" and encountered real evil and spiritual warfare on a level not even Bible college could have prepared me for. At that time a very real enemy had a hold of my life, and pulled me into a dark place. As I slowly came out of that spiritual bondage I began to write the first book in my series, "The Chronicles of the Warriors of the Charge."

It was therapy at first; a creative outlet to help me cope with the wreckage the dark time had brought to my life. But as I began to share the first chapters with others, and eventually the completed manuscript, it became obvious to me that the journey of the warrior and the epic battle between darkness and light was something that registered deep within all of us. It didn't seem to matter who read my book, men or women, young or old, those who loved fantasy fiction or those who never read it before. All appeared to have the same response to the story. Now that may be less a tribute to my writing skills and more evidence that there is something in this story that we are meant to hear. Truth is being communicated through the medium of myth.

The world I created, of course, is no more real than the Dead Man's Dull, but the principles of spiritual warfare and the role of worship in the life of a Christian warrior are very real, and I live them daily.

And so, I invite you into this journey, it is Seth's journey to becoming a warrior, but it is also my journey, and I pray, yours as well. This is an ongoing journey, and as I continue to learn more the Chronicles of the Warriors of the Charge will continue to take shape and to grow.”