To Gautama, Mallika, and Rita for their unconditional love and acceptance of all I do.

To Carla Linton for her dedication to create a better world.

To Muriel Nellis, who inspired my confidence as a writer from the very beginning.

To Toni Burbank, whose editing brought clarity to my thinking and improved every chapter of this book.

And especially to Huntley Dent—our deep friendship, the insights we shared together, and his literary guidance were all evolutionary experiences for me.