I would like to thank my superwoman agent and dear, dear friend, Lisa Hagan, for making this happen and for always believing in me as a person and a writer. I would also like to thank the amazing staff at Visible Ink Press, starting, of course, with publisher Roger Jänecke first and foremost. Thank you for allowing me to write this very important and much-needed book and for making it look fantastic long after I turned the manuscript in! Your staff is wonderful to work with, and I am so proud to have my name on your books. Kevin Hile, thank you for being an awesome editor to work with!
Thank you to my mom, Milly, my dad, John, who is watching from the heavens, and my sister, Angella, and brother, John, for being my amazing and supportive family. And thank you to my good friends, my extended kin, and to everyone who has ever purchased one of my books, listened to me on the radio, or watched me on TV and engaged with me to tell me that you enjoy what I do and learn from it. Without you, I am just a writer with no voice.
Thank you to San Marcos CERT, the San Marcos Fire Department, the San Marcos Amateur Radio Club, the Red Cross, Burbank Police and Fire Departments, and everyone who helped train me in disaster preparedness and response over the years.
Most of all, thank you to my sun and moon and stars, my son, Max, who makes all the hard, hard work worthwhile every time he calls me “Mom.”