DEDICATION

To my mom and dad, who never once greeted my desire to become a writer with skepticism or alarm. Instead they asked to see my writing, which is the greatest gift a parent can give someone who knows he wants to live in words.

To my sister, for constantly singing my praises to anyone who would listen and acting as my PR manager out of nothing but love and selflessness. She convinced me I was a better writer than I was, which is exactly what I needed to become a better writer.

To my kids, who with one smile supply me the motivation for twenty all-nighters.

To writers everywhere, because:

“If we had to say what writing is we would have to define it essentially as an act of courage.” —Cynthia Ozick “

The profession of book-writing makes horse racing seem like a solid, stable business.” —John Steinbeck

“It’s easy, after all, not to be a writer. Most people aren’t writers, and very little harm has come to them.” —Julian Barnes

And, as always, to Stephanie. A hundred critics could praise my work and I’d still be nagged by self-doubt; when you praise my work, I feel I can take on the world.