To Him, who is able to do considerably more than I can ask or think; I give thanks.
To Kung Fu Master, Jeff Weasel of the Tiger’s Den Martial Arts School, who taught me what little I know of the art, thank you.
To Leonard Kress, my fiction writing teacher at Owens Community College, your encouragement to write Life Choices way back in 1996 was very instrumental in launching my career. Thanks for telling me to finish that short story in your class. I’m often asked, “What made you start writing?” I have answered this question so many times that I’ve lost count. But I always tell the story about you and fellow professor, Shannon Smith, sitting in your cubicles, discussing that original short story that became a 579-page novel. I often wonder what would have happened if Shannon had not mentioned my short to you? Would I be an author today?
To Martina “Tee C” Royal of RAWSISTAZ Book Club, thanks for spreading the word and being a genuine source of encouragement.
To the dead (Bruce Lee, Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.), your words and philosophies live on in me.
Special thanks to the Toledo Public Library for all its help researching this and other projects.
To fellow Toledoan Marcus Cordland, thanks for the use of your image. You helped bring Keyth to life.
To my editor, Sibylla Nash, author of Dream City, thanks for all the insight and a myriad of helpful questions on this and other projects. I’m looking forward to working with you again.
A very special thank you goes out to Police Officer Pamela Adrienne Wise-Wilson, who spread the word among her coworkers at 911 Emergency in Toledo, Ohio. You’ve been a huge help.
To Daryl Newsome, Dana Ingram, Bonnie Williams, Annie Toyer, Billie Kwiatkowski, Gail Washington, and my uncle Eddie Gray Hooker for purchasing Sugar & Spice and spreading the word.
To Roderick Vincent Allen, my best friend, and his father George Allen, who treated me like a son since I was fifteen years old, thanks for all the free barbeque from your restaurant in Toledo—Mister Big Stuff’s Plantation Barbeque.
To Leonora Hunter, I appreciate all that you’re doing in San Diego to help get my name out there in the wild, wild West.
To Trena Bell, founder of the Black Pearls Book Club in Dallas, Texas, thanks so much for picking me up at Love Field Airport and showing me a wonderful time while I was there in August 2003. I’m looking forward to meeting with you and all the pearls again.
A special thanks goes out to Professors Lorry Cology and Linda See, and all my teachers at Owens, for all of their encouragement.
Special, special thanks to Zane, Charmaine Parker, and Strebor Books International for diligently working behind the scenes on my behalf, making my dreams a tangible reality, for opening the door of opportunity, making all the BS I’ve been through with wannabes in the publishing arena (so-called agents, publishers [more than one] etcetera) WORTH IT ALL. I have struggled for seven years in relative obscurity, wanting to work with other black folk (not that I’m against working with whites) who had a vision of working together for once in our collective lives, and not be at one another’s throats in the process. I fully understand that anything worth achieving will not be easy, but Zane, you, Charmaine, and Pamela Crockett have been a bright and burning light by which other African-American publishers can learn and model their own companies; putting such things as honesty first and actually paying your authors what’s due them, and paying them on time without excuses, which indeed is truly the American way.
Special thanks to Camille and Romaine James, a set of identical African-American clairvoyant twins who predicted I would meet a woman (Zane) from the East and that that woman would help me become a big success. Well, Camille and Romaine, you young ladies predicted this nearly a year ago and half of your prediction has come to pass…How could I have forgotten to acknowledge you two sweet women? Please find it in your hearts to forgive me.
To Donna Garth, wife of one of my best friends, Fred, who took the time out of her busy schedule to read my mysteries, a genre she doesn’t usually read. Thanks so much!
Thanks to Larry Whatley of the Urban Beat radio program in Toledo, Ohio. Thanks for the air time, my brother. We must do it again. I had so much fun. You let a brotha talk. And if you know me at all, I have to say whats on my mind. Thanks!