The process of writing this novel was not normal, which means the acknowledgments are a little strange, too. But still, there are some people who need to be thanked:
- Sharon Turner Mulvihill, for giving me a shot and being supportive and helpful throughout the whole odd process;
- Randall N. Bills, for being the exact right person for me to leech on over a number of years;
- Loren L. Coleman, for being encouraging as I gradually stuck my toes into the ocean of the BattleTech universe;
- Past editors—notably Donna Ippolito and Janna Silverstein—who were encouraging and positive even when projects didn’t work out as planned;
- My wife, Kathy, for being . . . well, for being my wife, Kathy;
- My son, Finn, for similar reasons;
- Everyone who ever wrote a book I loved. You know who you are.
- And though they’ll likely never see this, thanks to Ethan Cannon and Sam Cannon (distant cousins, not brothers) for first introducing me to RPGs. The adjustable-length ten-foot pole will never be forgotten.