I thank the women who bravely stepped out of their traditional roles as homemakers and into soldiering, nursing, and spying during the American Civil War and for giving me exciting material around which to craft my story!
Every writer has special people who influence their work. For me, they are:
Kevin O’Neill, associate professor at SUNY Plattsburgh, bequeathed me tools that unleashed my right brain.
The Institute of Children’s Literature (Connecticut) gave me my building blocks.
The Highlights Foundation set me up in beautiful Honesdale, Pennsylvania, and Chautauqua, New York, to learn from the masters.
Susan Campbell Bartoletti, award-winning and honored author of Black Potatoes: The Great Irish Famine, 1845–1850, Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow, and the popular historical novel The Boy Who Dared, taught me so much about developing my scenes, plot, and characters and inspired me on my way.
My writer friend, Susan Hoffman, led me into her greenhouse and showed me how to arrange words into colorful bouquets. Her direct influence yet blooms in the final pages of Sweet Glory.
Christy Wightman assigned my novel draft as her book club’s reading and discussion. From these parents, attentive to their young adults’ readings, I gleaned invaluable comments. And she led me to my writing coach.
Karen Knowles, author, teacher, and writing coach, taught me everything I know about editing when she guided me through a thorough revision of my novel draft. Without her, I would not be published!
Emily Hensler and Mia Simon stole time away from their homework to read and critique my story.
Theresa Rizzo, writer and cofounder of the Crested Butte Writers (Colorado), reminded me of the elements important to any great story opening in her training to judge novels as the coordinator of the Sandy Writing Contest; these skills have sharpened all of my words within.
Capital District Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, especially Eric Luper, Kyra Teis, Lois Huey, Nancy Castaldo, Linda Marshall, and Lyn Miller-Lachmann, pirates with a treasure chest of advice about writing, marketing, and publication, kindheartedly shared some of their gold with me.
Every writer has research to do. Special people and resources that advanced mine:
The keepers of historical Elmira, New York, armed me with facts, fiction, and walking-tour maps. And then they allowed me, a perfect stranger with no prior appointment, to comb through and photocopy their archives. This city rivals any in the United States for painting a picture of progress with its numerous, awe-inspiring landmarks dating back to the Revolutionary and Civil War eras. It is a goldmine for educators and history buffs!
No greater regimental history than that recorded by Civil War Veteran Noble D. Preston can possibly exist. From it, I extracted almost everything I needed to know about the Tenth New York Volunteer Cavalry Regiment.
Ron Matteson, through his book Civil War Campaigns of the 10th New York Cavalry, bolstered my research where Noble D. Preston was vague or silent, and he authenticated my words about this regiment.
Higginson Book Company of Salem, Massachusetts, has kindly permitted me to reproduce maps from their 1998 reprint of Noble D. Preston’s book.
The park ranger at the Gettysburg (Pennsylvania) Battlefield led me to people and places familiar to the Tenth NY during their seventy-two-day layover in this town before they were shipped off to war. These insights into this regiment’s beginnings helped me to define their character.
A Brandy Station (Virginia) Foundation member left her board meeting to welcome my husband and me in at closing time and give us a private tour of the Graffiti House (where convalescing soldiers scrawled their names, pictures, and slogans in charcoal all over the second-story walls). And then she armed us with facts, fiction, and a driving-tour map for the battlefield. Another goldmine for educators and Civil War enthusiasts!
Teacher Mary Radom examined my story for age appropriateness and helped me study my book market.
Writing is often a lonely venture. It is key for every author to surround themselves with people who believe in them. I have many family and friends to thank and little space to do it in. Those I fail to name should know that they are no less important to me. Some rose above:
Amazon customers who kindly reviewed my novel’s excerpt for the 2010 Amazon Breakthrough YA Novel Award Contest and influenced its advancement and exposure on a worldwide stage: Barb/Craig F., Cathy/Ken R., Cara H., Christopher G., Courtney G., Dannie B., Dan/Susan H., Doug G., Garth H., George P., Heidi G., Jed P., Jennifer/Whitten L., Joan L., Judy S., Karen/George H., Karen K., Linda F., Lisa K., Lolly F., Lynne H., Lynne/Rick G., Marsha P., Mary R., Mary W., Pam G., Rachel N., Richard P., Rick S., Ron M., Ryan C., Stephanie C., Theresa R., and Terry F.
My mom, Patricia, my mother-in-law, Anita, and my friends, Lynne and Marsha who, with very little time allotted, proofread my novel before it hit the press.
My mom also instigated my love of history when she dragged me on tours, and then she drove the getaway car while I hopped in and out of it to research my protagonist’s hometown. My mother-and-father-in-law, Anita and Ed, waited patiently to read my completed story, and they have championed it ever since. All three have kept me aware of the outside writing community through their wealth of contacts and newspaper clippings.
My twin sister, Lita, who shares my passion for historical fiction, loved my novel right from the start—her wink and nod is important to me. My other “sister,” Heidi, and my friend, Judy, already have some grand markets lined up for me. My brother-in-law, Al, and his family kindly allowed me a glimpse into yet another Civil War soldier’s life through their kin’s memoir. My other siblings (in-laws and outlaws): Doug and Garth committed their time and kind words for my novel’s review and Greg and Christine cheered me on during every phase of composition alongside nieces and nephews Christopher, Cara, Courtney, Kylie, Brent, Brandon, Weston, Devyn, and Blake. Special thanks to Courtney for her gazillion encouraging e-mails and great efforts to recruit book reviewers.
Through their knowing eyes forever etched in my heart, I know that my dad and grandparents can see that what they stood behind—my lifelong dream to write and publish a novel—has come true.
Just like Civil War regiments had mascots, I had my cuddly keeshond Hadley throughout my war with words. He inspired me through his boundless energy as a puppy and his will to survive as a troubled octogenarian. Bless him for licking an empty water bowl and holding his own water when I was too engrossed to notice.
My author friend L.A. Sartor (www.lasartor.com), to whom I’m eternally grateful, led me through the maze of self-publication when my publisher closed its door and I was forced to learn the business side of writing in order to find a new home for Sweet Glory. She also set me on a course to Christa Holland (www.paperandsage.com), Lucinda K. Campbell (lkebookformatting.com), and Dana Delamar (www.byyoursideselfpub.com). All three women were extremely kind, patient, and understanding as they tackled the work of redesigning my cover and reformatting the interior for digital and print editions, respectively.
Last, but most definitely not least, my husband, best friend, and hero—Jed! He really listened to my countless edits as evidenced by his insightful questions and suggestions for improvement. He summoned the rain during my more frightening creative droughts, and when he noticed my writing engine running in high gear, he let me be, even taking on my share of chores. He is the greatest person in the whole wide world!