The author would like to thank the following people: Mariel Jones and Joan Farr, for sharing their experiences with Miami-Dade County’s courts and counseling programs; Richard Peck, for getting me started; Felizon Vidad and Barbara Bottner, for helping edit my drafts; my husband, Gene, and my daughter, Katie, for their support; the members of my critique group, for all their encouragement; my mother, Manya Lowman, for always thinking I’d be a writer despite ample evidence (like my high school English grades) to the contrary; my editor Antonia Markiet, for her knowledge and experience and, especially, for listening; and my agent, George Nicholson—for being the best.
My special thanks to Joyce Sweeney, a great writer, teacher, and friend.