Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Jane Lasswell Hoff, Nancy Lundblad, and Robin McDuff, who took time to read and comment on the early manuscript of this book, and Shirley Tessler, for her assistance in editing the recipes. Moreover, I am grateful to those who let me pick their brains with regard to their various areas of expertise: Ian Cole of Ocean2Table and Dylan Buckingham (fishing in the Monterey Bay); Dan Jones (ocean currents); Jane Lasswell Hoff (forensics); Nancy Lundblad (medical issues); and Luci Zahray, aka “the Poison Lady” (toxicology). But please note that any factual mistakes that may exist herein are entirely mine.

In addition, I must acknowledge the helpfulness of the oral history titled Malio J. Stagnaro: The Santa Cruz Genovese (interviewed by Elizabeth Spedding Calciano, 1975), a part of the Regional History Project of UCSC. For anyone interested in the history and culture of the original Italian fishing families in Santa Cruz, this is an invaluable resource.

Enormous thanks are due, as well, to Jane Gregorius and Barbara Gunther, art teachers extraordinaire who helped me learn how to truly see.

Finally, as always, I am indebted to my terrific agent, Erin Niumata of Folio Literary Management, and to all the marvelous people at Crooked Lane Books, including Matt Martz, Sarah Poppe, Jenny Chen, Anne Brewer, and my amazing editor, Nike Power.