Wonderland could not have happened without Cindy Cresap, Greg Herren, Len Barot, Sheri, and Stacia Seaman.
For their never-ending support and words of encouragement, I offer my deepest gratitude to:
Albert Magaña, Andrea Patten, Bethany Hidden-Cauley, Cathy Moreno, Cyndi Lopez, Donna Cummings, Elizabeth Warren, Frankie Hernandez, Heather Brant, January Cummings, Jessica Moreno, Joyce Luzader, Keshia Whitmore-Govers, Kimberly Greenberg, Linda Wread-Barnes, Maire Gardner, Marisa Villegas, Michelle Boman Harris, Mindy Morgan, Nance Haxton, Nick A. Moreno, Nita Manley, Patricia Abbott-Dinsmore, Rena Mason, Robyn Colburn, Sabra Rahel, Sal Meza, Selena Ambush, Stacy Scranton, Stefani Deoul, Stephanie Gomez, Susan Madden, Tara Henry, Therease Logan, Trish DeBaun, Todd Wylie, and Vanessa Menendez.
To my parents, Samuel Barnes, Jr. and Nancy Nickle, and my brothers Jamin, Jason, Andy, and Jaren, for allowing me to be the writer in the family.
To my students, for teaching me more on a daily basis than I could ever dream of teaching them.
To the loving memory of my grandmother, Dorothy Helen Nickle, for my childhood of soap operas and tea parties.
To Edward C. Ortiz, for the wonderful life and love we share.
To the beautiful people I have lost who still resonate in every word I write: Caitlin Quinn, Dorothy Helen Nickle, Judy Ron, Malena Hamilton, Marianne Psota, and Norman Michael Parent.
To God, for everything.