Acknowledgments

When I started working on this book, I thought I’d be finished much sooner than I was actually able to do so. I already had material that formed about a third of what the book eventually became, and I figured the rest of it would slide easily into place. Boy, was I wrong! If anyone reading this is considering writing a book, everything other authors tell you about the process is true: it’s a lot more work than you think it’s going to be. And the people around you are just as key to your success as you are.

First and foremost, I’d like to thank my wife, Deborah, and my daughter, Julia, for their incredible sacrifice. Over the past year, I’ve been holed up in my office for more hours than I’d like to count, and they’ve borne the brunt of the effects of a missing husband and father. Thank you, Deborah, for your understanding, patience, kind-heartedness, and support; and thank you, Julia, for your good cheer and your always-diverting games and fun.