ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thanks to Sal Simeone and Tze Chun, the principals of TKO Productions, for their faith in me after I presented the mishmash of disjointed, scattered narrative that finally solidified into this book.

Thank you, Amy Sumerton, my “Editing Demoness,” who plowed through, organized and made coherent, my fledgling effort—AKA “the beast”—tamed her and rendered her ready for her closeup. She did it during a pandemic, with young ’uns underfoot.

Thanks to Alan Porter for poring over the mess stoically to put the timeline and plot holes right, and writing Mark’s notes. He accomplished this in spite of still toiling at his “day job” in the attic, chained to his chair.

Thank you, Dr. Robert, my baby brother, and sister-in-law Dr. Deb, for your input—ensuring I didn’t completely mess up the “sciency” stuff, and whatever else. So glad I kept you from drowning that day in Rockaway. Mom never would have forgiven me. I will periodically annoy you all the rest of our days.

Lastly, but not leastly, thank you Priscilla Kim, for your stellar (as in “rising star”) cover art—complete with “gems,” which is absolutely riveting to say the least.

—Janet