I hope that the reading of The Heart of Matthew Jade will entertain you. Moreover, it has been my hope from page one of the first draft that you will also arrive at a truer understanding of incarceration and the incarcerated, and, at the same time, be provoked into further questions. My life, for many years, centered around men and women similar to Crazy Eddy Kelly, Juju, Ned Rankor, Lucy, and The Professor; they are still in my heart.

Feel free to tell me if my writing informs you, motivates you, or simply entertains. There is much more to be written.

Ralph Allen

rvallen@feist.com