Additional information
by Daniel J. Duffield (Author)
The story is a historical fiction that chronicles the birth and rise of an ancient high king of Ireland who fought against the expanding Roman Empire. By the year 355 CE, the Roman Empire had expanded westward first conquering Gaul (France) and then Briton. The Romans then ventured northward in an attempt to conquer Alba (Scotland) before continuing westward to conquer the adjacent emerald isle called Eriu (Ireland). Torna knew from the moment he found the abandoned newborn baby in the deep forests that he was being protected and guided by the forest spirits for some great task. An abandoned newborn, found in the deep forests, reared by a poet, protected and guided by the forest spirits. Would the baby become savior for the people of Eriu and stop the Roman Empire from their ever-expanding reign of tyranny? Torna only knew that he and his wife were to do their part and raise the child as their own and they named him Niall. Niall's path was up to the spirits of the oak trees who were involved in the destiny of all.
Author Biography
Daniel J. Duffield was born in Lansing, Michigan in 1955. He grew up in a rural area within 30 miles of Lansing and attended Michigan State University where he received a B. S. in 1977 and a M.S in 1979. Both degrees were in Fisheries Biology and Management. After receiving his college degrees, he has had a diverse career managing aquatic resources. He taught at Alpena Community College in 1979 as a fisheries instructor. From 1980 to 1982 he was a staff biologist for King James Shrimp Incorporated located in the Chicago area. For the years 1982 through 1989 he was a Regional Fisheries Biologist for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources located in Cedar City, Utah. He worked as a Forest Fisheries Biologist on the both Dixie National Forest in southern Utah and the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. He is currently the Regional Fish Program Manager for the Intermountain Region of the Forest Service located in Ogden, Utah. He has authored numerous scientific articles and publications. "The Gate to the Timeless Mountain" was his first book and "Niall and the Irish Pirates" is his second one.
