Greywalker

Acknowledgement

Writing and publishing a novel is not nearly as solitary as I'd always thought. A lot of people helped make this book more than just an idea and a pile of paper.

First in line for kudos is my husband, who continues to support, encourage, and put up with me in all my moods; make great suggestions; and only laugh at the funny parts. Usually. He also contributed to Quinton's knowledge of arcane electronics and computer tricks.

Many thanks to my dedicated first readers, Nancy Durham and Elisabeth Shipman, who read Harper's adventure when it was still huge and gangling, read it again every time it got pared down, and keep asking for the next one. And thanks to my sister, Beth, and to our friend Joe Ochman, who also read the manuscript and gave me sage advice, encouragement, and help early on.

I owe a lot of thanks to Steve Mancino, who plucked the query from the slush pile, and Joshua Bilmes, "el queso grande" at JABberwocky Literary Agency, who said yes. I've learned my lesson and will never send another manuscript on twenty-four-pound paper. I promise.

I also have a wonderful editor, Anne Sowards, and copy editor, Cherilyn Johnson, who helped me keep my foot out of my mouth and made me look very much more clever than I am. If there's a mistake in here, it's because of me.

Special thanks go to Tanya Huff and Charlaine Harris for their personal charm and gracious words.

I received some last-minute technical assistance from Seattle PD detective Nathan Janes. Even though the specific information didn't make it into this book, it will have its day in the next one.

Beyond all of these, there are a ton of relatives and friends who've seen this through from raw idea to bookstore shelves, offering assistance, persistence, and forbearance in not smacking me with a wet trout on various occasions, while knowing when to go away and leave me alone on others. They are too numerous to list, but I'll single out a few for sticking it out above and beyond all reasonable expectation: Bruce Shipman, Ellen Williams, Bo and Sandy Carpenter, Sharon Langlois, Ken George, Jason Wood, Marci Dehn, Richenda Fairhurst, Joy

Huffine, Bart and Kris Lawrence, Josh Mitchell, Mara Love, Alex Pearson, Jacque Knight, Jay Menzo, Mike and Chris Uvyek, Jessica Branom-Zwick, Mel Shiprnan, Pamela Hale, Dan Sabath, Glenn Walker, Julie Albright, Becca Hildebrandt, Heather Steward, Melissa Wadsworth, Laura Friend, Rey and Karen Solis, John Barber, Misty Taliaferro, Olwen Palm, Stephanie Lawyer, and Frank White.

I have to mention the virtual communities that have put up with my shenanigans all this time: the rec.arts.mystery newsgroup, the TTLG.com forums, and Seattle Writer Grrls. Special thanks to Jon and Ruth and the rest of the staff of CrimeSpree Magazine, and to authors Jane Haddam, Barry Eisler, Robert Sawyer, Louise Marley, John Hemry, Donna Andrews, Brandon Sanderson, Mike Moscoe, Lawrence Watt-Evans, Kurt Busiek, Richard K. Morgan, Keith Snyder, Katy Munger, Lise McClendon, Monette Draper, Karen Irving, Mary Keenan, and Joe Konrath for professional advice and words of wisdom.

And if they were here, a last thank-you for everything would go to Richard Dennis Huffine, Leila Jane Phelps, and Andrew «Fluke» McKenzie, who had to leave too soon.

I am grateful for so much help and friendship from all of these people and from those I may have forgotten who've lent me their support for so long. They've all contributed in some way to this book, but if there are mistakes in it, those are entirely mine.

— KR