In the Blood

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Special thanks to: Sean and Rose Prescott, Karen Abrahamson, and Dean Smith for being my first readers; to my editor, Jen Heddle, and my agent, Matt Bialer, for their passion and for encouraging me to remain true to my vision. It’s still one helluva kick-ass ride!

Thanks to: Mippy Carlson, Judi Szabo, Sheila Dale, Louise Robson, and all the members of Club Hell and my street team for your support, enthusiasm, and for giving me even more reason to keep my fingers on the keyboard. Merci beaucoup, y’all!

Thanks also to: The members of OWN and Jeri Smith-Ready for friendship and cheerleading; to my sons, Matt Jensen and Sebastian Phoenix and their partners, Sherri Lyons and Jen Phoenix, and my book-loving little Kylah Phoenix, for all their encouragement and love.

Thanks also to: Abulia Paroxysm (Sebastian Phoenix) for creating music that is original and heart-felt and true. And, last, but never least, Trent Reznor, whose music always provides an emotional soundscape and is a source of inspiration, and whose live NIN shows are not only kick-ass, but relevant and ground-breaking. No one does it better. Period.

And, again, thanks to you, the reader, for picking up this book and plunging back into Dante, Heather, and Lucien’s world. If this is your first time, bienvenue. Enjoy. Please visit me at www.adrianphoenix.com or at www.myspace.com/adrian nikolasphoenix.