Dedication

For Laura Stephens and Linda Carroll-Bradd,

writerly yin to my yang,

who see what I don’t, and then make sure I do.

~*~

Acknowledgements

Trust me on this: Anyone who tells you writing a book gets easier the more books you write is lying to you. I will always rely on critique by my fellow authors, on beta reads of the entire manuscript, and on topnotch editing. They help me see what I think is on the page but is not, what should not be on the page but is, and every dratted extra comma in between.

So again and eternally, I want to thank my critique groups in Maryland and in Texas, my ever-fabulous beta reader, Dr. Lisa Benton-Short, and my superb editor, Frances Sevilla.