There are so many people to thank for this book, but I’ll try to keep the mushy stuff to a minimum.
Thank you to my wonderful children, Anthony, Marc, Marlayna and Dylan. Any child is a blessing, but to be given four of the most unique, funny and kind children is truly a gift from God. Thanks for putting up with my blank stares while I was in “the zone.” Thanks for not taking advantage of me when you knew I wasn’t really listening and would say yes to anything, and for not hiding me from your friends when you knew I could launch into one-sided conversations at any moment. My sisters, Tracey Brodeur, Trisha Sweezey and Barbara Van Well, thank you for being the best and most painfully honest beta readers a writer could hope for. Thanks to my brothers, Hank Jr. for always rooting me on; Heath, for forever being my champion, and Hugh for being the inspiration for Bart (even though you’re probably only discovering this now). No words can express my thanks to my mom, Johanna Van Well, for giving me the gift of writing, all her love, and for being my #1 fan, and to my dad, Hank Van Well, Sr. for being the perfect role model on which I base all my heroes.
To all the members of Long Island Romance Writers, thank you for your knowledge, encouragement and for being the best damn support group there is. Thanks so much to my team at Booktrope Publishing: Katherine Sears and Ken Shear, for taking a chance on me; Vanya Drumchiyska, my book manager, who dedicated herself to making sure everything ran smoothly throughout the publishing process; Laurel Busch, my awesome editor, who made my book the best it could be; Samantha March, my marketing manager for all her hard work at getting my name out there; Greg Simanson for his beautiful cover; Jesse James Freeman for all his support; Susan Ethridge, my proofreader, for stepping in and doing an awesome job, and finally, special thanks to Jennifer Gracen, for putting her faith in me.
Ruby’s Letters would not be the book it is without the help and support of three of the most treasured critique partners a writer could hope for: Tina Joyce Beckett, Abby Niles and Christyne Butler. You ladies are truly a blessing.
And finally, there are not enough words to express my gratitude to Paul C. Goldstein of Midtown Masonry, Inc. for his seemingly endless knowledge of fireplaces, chimneys and masonry. Much thanks for putting up with my intrusive phone calls, my constant pecking at your brain and for beta reading my first draft.