Besides my family of origin, I have been blessed to parent two phenomenally supportive women, Liana and Anita Brown. I also appreciate the in-laws, aunts, nieces, nephews, and cousins who have encouraged me to tell my story.
I am grateful that When Words Count Retreat exists in Vermont. Steven and Neile Eisner provided much-needed encouragement as I completed the book and went on to win the retreat’s Book Deal competition. The prize was this book’s publication. I appreciate the judges, Marilyn Atlas, Ben Tanzer, Meryl Moss and Catherine Marenghi and send love to my fellow contestants from Pitch Week V.
I appreciate my publisher at Curbside Splendor Publishing, competition judge Victor D. Giron. I was fortunate to have Joshua Bohnsack edit this manuscript. Josh, you pushed me to share my emotionally difficult story in a way that makes sense to readers who haven’t shared my cultural experiences.
Thank you, Marie White-Small and Peggy Moran for ably editing early drafts of the manuscript.
Thank you, Anne Greene and Lis Harris for encouraging me to write this story when I attended the Wesleyan Writers Conference with a manuscript idea.
Thank you, James Astrachan for safeguarding my intellectual property.
Thank you, Valerie Cole-James, Veda Pendleton, Liana Brown, Elizabeth Lopez and Felipe Cabrera for reading the manuscript and providing invaluable feedback.
Thank you early endorsers: Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison, Dr. Cassandra Joubert, Mimi Baird, Andrea M. Cole, Nana-Ama Danquah and Dr. Diane Pomerantz.
Thank you for prayerful and/or financial support: Elder Bruce Edwards, Sr. and the congregation at Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ (Glen Burnie, MD,) Allen and Jo Ann Russell, Desiree Barnes, Gloria Penny Mullings, Lela Richardson, Latisha Jackson, Michelle Edwards, Regina Foreman, Tony and Wendy Baysmore, Gwendolyn Williams, Lida Bates, Ellen R. Berhane, Bruk and Amara Berhane, Shanee Johnson, Kenneth Greif, Leslie Ries, Michael and Brandon King, Adam Turnage III, Delores Johnson and my loving sisters at Bible Study Fellowship (Lutherville, MD).
And . . . much love always to my niece, Camryn D. Little, who reminds us all that we CAN get up, because we are NOT defeated!