ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

An old African proverb states “it takes a village to raise a child.” The same can be said for a novel, especially a first novel. I have a whole village of supportive writer friends to thank, especially my critique partners over the years and published writers who gave me sound advice and encouragement. And the writing communities I’ve joined: Pikes Peak Writers, where I garnered my first contest win and learned so much from their wonderful conferences, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, who published my first short story, Mystery Writers of America, and the Guppies chapter of Sisters in Crime, who gave me moral support and shared information.

I’d like to thank my first literary agent, Barret Neville, for his faith in my talents and for negotiating my first book contract, and my current agent, Sandra Bond, without whom I’d be a floundering fish in a murky sea of contract jargon and career choices. Many thanks to my editor, Denise Dietz, and the other professionals at Tekno Books and Five Star Publishing who worked on the first hardcover publication of A Real Basket Case. Also, thanks to acquisition editor Terri Bischoff, senior editor Connie Hill, cover designer Kevin R. Brown, illustrator Glenn Gustafson, and the rest of the publication staff at Midnight Ink who are breathing new life into the Claire Hanover gift basket designer mystery series, starting with the publication of this trade paperback and ebook edition of A Real Basket Case. Claire and I are immensely pleased with the series’ new home.

A hearty thank you to the volunteer instructors of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Citizens Academy for educating me about crime, jails, and police procedure. Lastly, my husband Neil deserves super kudos for putting up with my long sojourns in my basement writing den, while laundry moldered in the washing machine and dinner preparations were forgotten. You kept the faith during the seven years it took for me to publish my first book and have been my main cheerleader since, and I love you for it.