I have to begin by thanking Ed Gorman. Not only is Ed one of our finest writers; he has been a great friend and supporter of my work. Without Ed, this book wouldn’t exist. And Tom Monteleone has believed in my work for many years. He’s answered questions, boosted my morale, and advocated on my behalf more times than I can count. For their advice and support, I’m indebted to Will Lavender, John Lescroart, Jonathan Maberry, David Morrell, and Paul Wilson. I’d also like to thank my friends and colleagues in the English department and the Potter College of Arts and Letters at Western Kentucky University, especially Karen Schneider, Tom Hunley, David Lenoir, Mary Ellen Miller, and Dale Rigby. And a special thanks to my students past, present, and future, who teach me a lot about writing whether they realize it or not. For friendship above and beyond the call of duty, I’m grateful to Bob and Carrie Driehaus.
Special thanks to my editor, Danielle Perez, and everyone at New American Library/Penguin. Danielle’s ability to ask the right questions at the right times, to gently guide and casually prod while always maintaining her sense of humor, has made this process more enjoyable than I ever thought it would be. And the book is better for her efforts.
And words cannot express the gratitude I owe my amazing agent, Laney Katz Becker, and everyone at Markson Thoma. Laney has worked tirelessly on my behalf over the past two years, and her faith, wisdom, and patience have made me a better writer. I’m so fortunate to have Laney in my corner.
Finally, I have to thank Molly McCaffrey for . . . everything.
Photo by Victoria Taylor
David Bell is currently an assistant professor of English at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He received an MA in creative writing from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and a PhD in American literature and creative writing from the University of Cincinnati. He has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize twice. David can be reached through his Web site at www.davidbellnovels.com.