Acknowledging the multitude of family, friends, and professionals who have inspired, helped, and coached this series of books into existence is a little like gathering up the blocks my grandson and I have spilled out onto the carpet for an hour of shared pleasure. One or two are bound to get away and show up later when we’re not looking for them, wedged under the rockers of Grandpa’s chair.
The list at the end of The Dove and the Rose filled two pages, and I have no intention of repeating it. But at least one important block got away. Renowned historian of the Belgian Reformation, Dr. A.L.E. Verheyden, welcomed my husband, Walt, and me into his cozy row house on the outskirts of Brussels. We followed him up his narrow carpeted stairwell to a room filled with old books, the smell of pipe tobacco, and a tray of “koffie” and cookies. We will never forget the tales he told nor that huge book in which he had listed all the names of the Anabaptist martyrs executed under the command of the Duke of Alva during his seven-year governorship of the Netherlands—over 12,200 of them. Dr. Verheyden was a pioneer in Anabaptist research. I still thrill to the memory of his going through his bookshelves, pulling out thin yellowed pamphlets and handing them to me with the incredible explanation, “Here, take this. I have another copy.” Mostly martyr studies, they date as far back as 1945 and still bear the aroma of that incredible office.
Special recognition is in order, as well, to
The members of The Parts of Speech critique group for their expertise, encouragement, and prayers over the long haul.
Willeke Huijsing for reading the entire manuscript (mostly in a lawn chair in my backyard) and pointing out all the Dutch flaws.
Martha Doolittle, my daughter, dramaturge, script critic, and actress, who gave the entire manuscript its first detailed, whole-book critique.
Husband, Walt, for hanging in there through one more book and listening to it from beginning to end while on vacation, then for helping me handle a couple of getaways specifically designed to finish the job.
Dr. Arthur Brown, retired gynecologist, for the loan of the fascinating old book, The London Practice of Midwifery, from his library; and Karen Cushman for her delightful little book, The Midwife’s Apprentice.
Enough pleased readers of book one, The Dove and the Rose, to fill a file folder to the bursting point with letters.
Les Stobbe, faithful agent; and Sharon Asmus, delightful editor, unflagging in encouragement and insistent on quality.
The continuing group of supportive praying friends who keep asking, “How is Pieter-Lucas doing?”
God himself, Vader in the Heaven, who continues to drop just the right resource or word of inspiration or guidance into my hands and heart at the right time, and who gives me enough energy of mind and body and vision of spirit to keep going.