Acknowledgments

Writers never truly work alone. Special thanks to Louise and Ellen for their assistance during this project—rock shopping is always more fun with friends! Thanks to Elysia Gallo for her support and advice on the manuscript; and thanks to my mom and grandma for nurturing my childhood fascination with rocks. And, finally, to everyone who has ever given me a stone picked up on their travels around the world—thank you, and keep ’em coming!