Invaluable feedback on the many drafts of Cold Heart came from patient writing friends Laurie Billman, Sam Brooks, Antoinette Brown, Toni Goodyear, Louise Hawes, Marjorie Hudson, Linda Johnson, Ruth Moose, Joanna Catherine Scott, Judith Stanton, and Frances Wood. Shirley Burch’s advice kept my SBI agent reasonably well-behaved. I’m grateful to the Weymouth Arts Center in Southern Pines, NC, for several writing residencies, to Deni Dietz and Five Star for providing a home for Stella, and to Gordon Aalborg for his editorial guidance. I’m blessed with the encouragement of family, especially my husband, Mac. Thank you, all.