I’ve had so much help in creating Home to the Harbor. My agent Karen Solem, and everyone at Spencerhill Associates, provides wonderful support and cheerleading. Shana Asaro, Susan Swinwood and the fabulous art department and sales team: your hard work is so very much appreciated. Thank you!
I’m grateful to the staff of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and to Earl Swift, author of Chesapeake Requiem, for much of the information about boating, crabbing and oystering that appears in Home to the Harbor; they’re the reason for what I got right, but are in no way responsible for any mistakes. The patrons, waitstaff and cooks at Old Salty’s restaurant in Fishing Creek served up way too much delicious local food; if my descriptions make readers hungry, they are to blame!
When the creative life gets challenging, writer friends make all the difference. The Wednesday Morning Writers’ Group, my Seton Hill colleagues and students, Sandy, Dana and Rachel: you continue to inspire me.
I couldn’t write my books without the love and companionship of my closest people: Sue, Ron, Jessie, Bill and most of all, Grace. I love you all so much.
Finally, I want to thank my readers for buying and reading my books and for your kind notes, emails and reviews. I don’t take any of that for granted, and it’s to you that this book is dedicated.