Book excerpt: An Epic of Quantum FantasyFollowing the sudden death of her long-estranged great aunt, Annalise Dormane has begun having the strangest dreams. The seascape images and cryptic words mean nothing to her or have little relevance to her high school life in the suburban town of Armistice. As hard as she tries, though, she can't ignore them -- or their apparent connection to her mother Clara's elusive family history. Her parents aren't providing answers, and her friends don't understand her increasingly bizarre behavior. How the ocean connects everything Annalise can't begin to grasp. Her curiosity to unlock the family secrets will take her beyond Armistice, beyond the boundaries of Ohio, and beyond her understanding of the world.Book One in the "Between Us, The Sea" TrilogyFrom the Author:Why So Elusive? I was the kid who didn't want to know what he was getting for his birthday -- even when his older sister had pinpointed exactly where in the house the gifts were stashed. I might have opened the closet door, but I wouldn't let myself peek inside the bag. I loved the mystery, got high on the suspense. I suppose I still do in life, although the mysteries now are of a different dimension. There is a power to the unknown. There is an immeasurable energy behind an enigma. That same energy powers a large chunk of Tides Beyond Time -- not a question of "Whodunit," but more a question of "What Is It?" To reveal the concept underlying the story would be the same as my sister dumping all the hidden Transformers on my bedroom floor the day before my birthday. Annalise Dormane, our protagonist, is uncovering her mystery at the same time as the reader. The characters, wonders, and dangers awaiting her are also awaiting them. I won't give you answers here, but I can offer you an invitation to the beginning of a trilogy that I hope will always leave you wondering.