ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thank you so much to everyone at NAL, especially my wonderful boss, Kara Welsh, and Leslie Gelbman. Thank you also to Team Waud, and to my family and friends.
About ten years ago, I moved down South, and I have to say, I honestly love it. It took a while to get used to everything, but now that I have a profound passion for college hoops (#L1C4), a number of tremendous friends, and a house that feels like home, it is clear that this Northerner has embraced everything about living in the Derby City. To say that this book wouldn’t have been possible without this town and all the people I know here is a vast understatement. And for the first time ever, there are some loose connections between certain folks in the book and people whom I know—with these kinds of characters, how can you not write about them?
To that end, I would like to thank the following in no particular order: Leonard, my daughter, my mom, Nomers & Jonah, my pup and TatSon, my bffle & her kids, my Papa, Bob Melzer, Nique & Clarke, Mr. Henry Camp a.k.a. Uncle Stank, Dr. Michael “Bad Boy” Haboubi and his family, Dr. and Mrs. Gary Edlin (chief, your nickname will stay on the QT in this public forum), Chuck Mitchell and the lovely Renee & Cya, Mr. & Mrs. Ballard & Gracie & SophSoph, my adopted godson, Jacob (Who’s the man?!), my niece, Polly, and nephew, William (Go Cards!), and their parents, Aunt Betsey & Uncle Bob, and all their family, Grandmother Sue & Geegaw, my FIL Padre & Granny Gray, Granny & Aunt Lee, Little Lee and the twins, Dr. & Dr. Fox, the Norton Family, the incomparable Roderick Hodge & his whole family, Kathy Cary, the Robinsons (esp. the Mrs. who breaks out the good stuff for me), both sets of Ronalds (the ones by me and the ones by my mom), all of the members of the Brown family on whom absolutely, positively none of this is based (and I really do mean that), Sandra Frazier, the Fellons, Ghislain & Nicholas, Karl & Elizabeth, Steph & Robert & BOB, The Leslie & Andy Hyslop, and so many more.
And in closing, I have to acknowledge my wonderful husband Neville’s grandmother, Mrs. Neville Blakemore, who will remain in my heart forever-more as the ultimate Southern Lady.
I’ve tried not to leave anyone out, if I have, my apologies.