Dareth Strombane has enjoyed a dream childhood for too long. Traveling across his home world with his mother on the Ardonian Fleet's flying ships, he has already lived the life most kids would have dreamed. All of this comes to a crashing halt after their ship is savagely attacked by pirates. Dareth is then forced to live with his father: the cold and calculating High-General of the Ardonian Armada. As the High-General's son, Dareth is brutally initiated into squire training to become a soldier and officer. He struggles to keep that piece of him that is kind and gentle in a castle that is brutal and uncaring. Knight's of Avalon: Diamond Heart Chronicles is a series of four books that tell the tale of Dareth Strombane's coming to manhood. These four books take place on the Ardonian Empire's home world, but will next lead us to Terra's mythic continent of Avalon. Dareth Strombane. A new kind of hero. A new kind of alien.
About the Author: Richard James Sullivan, LCSW From a very early age, Sullivan was exposed to the performing arts as his mother toured with a vaudeville show across the United States. Little did she know this would lead her son into a twenty-year career as a dancer and actor in the Miami and Tampa Bay areas. Throughout his career as a performer, Mr. Sullivan has been a teacher of theater and dance to children and adults. He taught in the YMCA and the Jewish community schools, as well as a number of elementary after-school programs. Throughout these experiences, he wrote plays with children for their recitals. He has been a professor at the Florida International University, as well as Barry University. He has trained social workers who serve the community supervising families involved with the foster care system. As a professor and case manager, he worked closely with the administration of the Department of Children and Families to create and write new policies and programs. For four years, Sullivan worked as a social work case manager and was confronted with many of the hardships that affect people from every walk of life. During that time, he also worked part time as a clinical therapist supporting trauma survivors and rehabilitating substance abusers. Through these experiences, Sullivan witnessed many of the dramas that life offers and learned that there is a natural rhythm to the plots that unfold in our daily lives. There, he reported to the Dependency court judges stories of success and/or failures of his clients. Later, Sullivan worked as a mental health therapist with children and families, but now he is employed with the Veteran Administration Hospital in Miami, Florida, as a therapist helping house homeless veterans who cope with severe mental health and substance abuse problems. By working closely with veterans, victims and perpetrators, he developed a unique understanding of conflict through interaction, as well as knowledge of how a person's character can change, if they're ready. At every step of his life as an artist, teacher and social worker therapist, Sullivan has always endeavored to improve himself through his continued scholastic education. He currently holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees in psychology and dance, with a minor in education. Plus, he completed his Masters in Social Work in June 2000 and is now considered a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Mr. Sullivan lives in Miami with his wife, mother-in-law and daughter, Athena.