ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thanks to all my friends in New Mexico, especially Jim Yontz, Lee McMillian, Frances (Baird) Sanchez, and Connie Burch.

I worked on this book for nearly four years. I could not have finished writing such a difficult book without the help and support of my family and friends. Thanks to M’Lissa Fielder, Sydney Trussler, Nichole Lungren, Tommy Moreno, Terry Eggers, Jonathan Stenberg, Eric Larsen, Terry Lee Walker, Melissa Danforth, Karl Blatt, Stu Dixon, Bob Pyle, Dick Smith, Gary Schaefer, David Mack, Joel Seidel, Bob Westling, Greg Coy, Larry Hoof, Kevin Huff, Rebecca Kelly, Janet Lizop, and, finally, my dear friend Allen Nickelson.

Over the years I’ve studied with many fine writing teachers. Thanks to Fan Gates, Leon Arksey, Leonardo Bercovici, and Al Hikida.

Every writer needs a big break to get published. I want to thank the following editors and writers who helped me find my way through the “dog-eat-dog” world of publishing: Craig Lewis, Gregg Olsen, Judy Alexander, Paul Dinas, and Michaela Hamilton.

Books don’t get written without coffee. I spent many hours at a local Starbucks dreaming up my approach to telling the David Parker Ray story. Thanks to the people who poured my Colombian “short drip” every day—Courtney, Rachael, Lindsey, Joey, Jill, Liz, John, Ken, Ashley, Kristen, Andrea, and Mary.

And, finally, thanks to Ernest Hemingway and Truman Capote—the guys who made me want to be a writer someday.