Acknowledgments
It was not until we actually tried to write a book that we discovered why the acknowledgments section of every book explains that the book is more than the work of the author (or authors) whose name(s) appears on the front cover! True to form, this book was also a group effort by more than just Rob, Nick, and Steven. We would like to thank everyone who helped us turn the original idea into the book you are now holding.
We are indebted to our development editors, Joyce King, Douglas Pundick, and Nermina Miller, who offered advice and encouragement throughout the writing phase. We would never have completed it without you guys. Late-night/early-morning chats on Skype enlightened us on the book-writing process and the organization required to complete the manuscript.
A host of other people at Manning also worked very hard behind the scenes to ensure that the book made it through to publication. We would like to thank them all, including our publisher Marjan Bace, our associate publisher Mike Stephens, our review editor Karen Tegtmeyer, and Megan Yockey who kept on top of the paperwork. When the manuscript entered the production stage, Mary Piergies, our project editor, provided invaluable guidance. The rest of the production team (Tony Roberts, Dottie Marsico, Tiffany Taylor, Leslie Haimes, Elizabeth Martin, Gabriel Dobrescu, and Steven Hong) all had a hand in bringing this book to you.