The Far Empty (40 page)

Writing a book can be a solitary endeavor, but publishing one is definitely not.

I have to start by thanking my amazing agent, Carlie Webber, who first saw some potential, and then Nita Taublib and my wonderful (and very patient) editor, Sara Minnich, as well as everyone else at G. P. Putnam’s Sons, who pushed me to realize it and made it all come true. Of course I could never have gotten this far without my family: my sister, Torri Martin, and my parents, Dan and Vickie Scott (who wondered why it took so long); my girls, Madeleine, Lily, and Lucy (who cheered me on); and my best friends, Brian, Tom, and “Doctor” Todd (who heard it all for years).

Also, special thanks go out to fellow writers, including Brian Panowich and Kate Brauning, who were gracious enough to answer my many how-to questions, and Sheila in Portland and Brian (again)
in Tucson, who took the time to read my “other” first novel, even if it wasn’t this one.

As always, nothing is possible without Delcia . . .

. . . And this book was fueled in large part by the music of Whiskey Myers and a lot of cold bottles of Rahr & Sons Texas Red lager.

Murfee, Texas, and Big Bend County don’t exist, but they are stitched together from real places: Brewster and Presidio counties and Big Bend Ranch State Park and Big Bend National Park. I took some necessary creative and geographical liberties, but I hope I did justice to this wild and beautiful part of the country. This story doesn’t exist otherwise. As always, all true errors are mine.

Finally, I’ve carried a badge and gun for twenty years, and have been privileged to work alongside hundreds of dedicated, honest, and self-sacrificing agents and officers from all over the world, most recently in the DEA’s outstanding El Paso Division. There’s no career,
no calling
, quite like it, and other than writing, it’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do.

To all those out there chasing outlaws each and every day, stay safe.

—JTS

J. Todd Scott
has been a federal agent with the DEA for more than twenty years, working cases investigating international maritime smuggling, domestic meth labs, and Mexican cartels. He has a law degree from George Mason University and is a father of three. A Kentucky native, he now resides in Texas, which provided the backdrop for
The Far Empty
, his debut novel.

JToddScott.com

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twitter.com/J_ToddScott

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