ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To the memory of my parents who gave me a legacy of faith, instilled in me the efficacy of kindness, integrity, and commitment to good; to the memory of my siblings from whom I learned the art of distinguishing conflict from competition, and to my late mother, especially, who wrote the first fiction I ever read and taught me to read and write by the time I was five.

 

To my editor, Karen Thomas, whose helpfulness and graciousness are of immeasurable value to me, and to my former agent, James B. Finn, who set a standard for integrity and grace in business practices.

 

Finally, I thank God for the talent He has given me and for the opportunities to use it.