Gene. My IR. My partner. My husband. My biggest cheerleader. This would never have happened without you.
Lulie, Paul, David and Gretchen—my children, and to Dane, Marie, Taylor, Jacob, Sarah, Clare, Matthew and Adeline, my grandchildren—you make me want to be all that I can be.
Christopher, Anna, Lee, Sean, Kristine—my chosen children, and to Cooper, Max, Griffin and Gray, my inherited grandsons—you bless me with your love and acceptance.
Lenoir-Rhyne University Center for Graduate Studies—the Thomas Wolfe Center for Narrative; Dean, Mike Dempsey; program director, Laura-Hope Gill; professors, Jessica Jacobs and Dale Neal—you opened a door I didn’t know was closed and beckoned me forward into this brave world as an author.
For my writing groups and partners: Taryn Huchinson, Francine Hendrickson, Kacy Burke, John Hickman, Dan Waters, Tanya Davis, Marie Horton, Heather Wood-Buzzard and all the students with whom I had the privilege of being in class with from 2015-2017, you made me a better writer.
My friends who read countless drafts of Catfish and other pieces: Chalayne Sayes, Evin Wilman, Becca Wilman, Brenda Oliver Vessels, Lisa Stacevich, Carol Kinder.
Brenda Oliver Vessels for her photographs of me for the back cover and on my web site.
Lori Hill for designing my website.
JT Hill and Jessica Jacobs for editorial advice
Mark Reid for the cover design and Lorna Reid for interior design, and for walking me through self-publishing like a child through a scary movie.
My siblings, Johnny, Billy and Sally who are what’s left of our family of eight and who provide me with a place to go, “home,” to; and to Benny and Bobby, our brothers, who are preparing our permanent home in heaven.
Angela Bauldree, who David made my sister.
My mother whose dream to be a writer and poet was usurped by motherhood, which she poured her whole life into; and to my dad who taught me that discipline and hard work pay off. Maybe you rest together in eternity.
To God, who has been so good to me. Thank you for giving me what I need, not what I deserve.