I’ve often been asked where I find the inspiration for various stories. In this case, this book was inspired by a real event that happened in Iowa in the early 1900s, and by the intriguing book Midnight Assassin by Patricia Bryan and Thomas Wolf. I’d like to thank them for creating such an interesting book and for whetting my desire to learn more about women’s issues during that time period. (Thank goodness I live in this age!)
Another big thanks to my editor, Emily! You not only spot the holes in the story, but give me specific ideas on what I need to do to fill them! The story is better and stronger thanks to your input and I can’t tell you how much I value your comments!
My agent, Stacey—for the past seven years, you’ve guided my steps down this crazy path, and I never would have made it without you! Always patient and kind, you have been a joy to work with!
To Alexx Miller, my beta reader. Thanks for being there with the praise and/or swift kick in the keister, and for knowing which I needed the most at any given point in time!
To my friend and fellow author, Tamara Siler Jones—thanks so much for being the “voice of reason” during the process of this book and for the endless brainstorming! I knew that I could always count on you to give it to me straight!
Mark Shepherd, Dallas County Deputy Sheriff and Medical Examiner Investigator—thanks, Mark, for all of the valuable information about law enforcement procedures and ideas on how to set up my poor characters! And thanks for the tour of the Dallas County Jail! So happy that you didn’t make me stay, and I pray I never have to enjoy your hospitality!
And, as always, a heartfelt thanks to my family and friends. You’ve been on this journey with me since the beginning and I know it hasn’t always been an easy one, but your love and support has never wavered.
To all the readers who’ve spent their time and their money on these tales I spin—without your interest, my stories would be just another file on my hard drive. As you can see a lot of people had input into this story, but all errors and mistakes are mine alone! Hopefully you, the reader, will forgive those oversights and enjoy the story!