Dedications & Thank You's

This novel and accompanying musical CD contains the combined work and talents of many people.

With a sky full of appreciation and an ocean of gratitude I thank the Emma's Love Letters core-group: Mariellen Baker, the late Kay Brown, Alan Burr, Steven Calvin, Robin Campbell, Tim Christensen, Lisa Chupity, Matt Cole, Karin Fay, Sara Furrer, Annette Bianchi, Greg Hannig, Christopher Hopkins-Ward, Tommy Merry, Robert Peterson, Ron Rose, and Scarlett Rose.

Special appreciation goes to James Beard, John Donohue, Jim Numan, Alex Porter, Brian Shearn, and Kerry Wing.

Appreciation is due to many others. I apologize to anyone I may have unintentionally neglected to list. Except for the first two listings all will appear in alphabetical order.

My appreciation to the family members of the Emma's Love Letters core-group. Thank you for your encouragement and patience. Very special appreciation to Susan Peterson, who always attended our dinners and mini-concerts with her support and a camera.

My gratitude and heart-kinship to all Vincent van Gogh aficionados, who with me are mesmerized by his paintings and his writings. I feel that we are those he speaks of when he wrote, "Whether or not I have succeeded, I do think my work will be carried on. Perhaps not exactly, but there are others who see the truth as I do."

My appreciation and love to the Abrahamian family, especially to Uncle Armen and Aunt Georgia. We lost our dear Georgia in March, 2007. I miss her smiling face and unwavering encouragement.

Thanks to Terrie Acampora, for your friendship, photography, and helpful business advice.

Thanks to the staff of Arcangeli Grocery, Pescadero, California.

My love to the Arechiga Family: Dave Sr., Beth, Trisha, Brandon, Daniel, Joshua, Sara, and Adam.

Thanks to Donna Arvidson.

My love to Kay and John Barnes.

Hugs to Chief Silver Arrow, John Borrero, Jr.

Appreciation to the late Charlotte Brewer for her encouragement and insightful advice regarding characters.

My appreciation to Dr. James Briggs.

My love to the Broderick Family: Dennis, Susan & Chad Broderick, and Ryan Frank.

Appreciation to David Brooks for your e-mails of encouragement and for allowing us to use your Vincent van Gogh biography on the biography page of our website.

My love to LaDonna Bueligen.

Appreciation to photographer, Ted Burris.

Thanks to the staff of Center of Disease Control (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia, for research assistance.

My love to Bernida and Bill Childers. Bernida, what in the world would I have done without you? You are amazing!

My love to Cynthia Childers & Steve Cole.

My love to Betty Christensen.

Hugs to Tim Christensen, Jr.

Hugs to Joe Christensen.

Appreciation to Dr. James Clifford.

Thanks to the staff of CreoLa Restaurant, San Carlos, California, for the great food and incredible coffee.

Thanks to the wonderful people of Davenport, California.

Appreciation and admiration to Paul Davids. I can never thank you enough, never.

Appreciation to Doctors Without Borders, International.

Thanks to the staff of Duarte's Tavern, Pescadero, California.

Appreciation to Craig Garvas.

Girls: Warm smiles to two little girls in the library.

My love and hugs to Judy and Chuck Goodrich.

Appreciation to Tim Grimm, your music is awesome.

Hugs to Rose and Ernie Guisponi.

My respect and great admiration to the staff of Guitars Not Guns (GNG). All of us associated with Emma's Love Letters hope our efforts will benefit the GNG program.

To GNG kids, I wish you all love, acceptance, joy, health, and music. Find your dreams inside yourselves, take them out, and allow them to guide your lives.

My love and appreciation to the staff of Half Moon Bay Joe's Restaurant, Half Moon Bay, California. You have all been generous and supportive. We used your restaurant for many of our meetings, special core-group dinners, and mini-concerts. You are wonderful friends. Thank you.

Hugs to Arlo Hansen.

Deep gratitude to Dr. Carol Hansen. Thank you for being excited about this novel and for your creative advice. You are a remarkable and inspiring teacher. I will always appreciate having been your student.

Hugs to Gene Hanten.

Thanks to Margaret Harris.

Thanks to the staff of the Mark Hopkins Inter-Continental Hotel, San Francisco, California, for being so very gracious while I was at the Mark researching for Emma's fictional engagement dinner.

Thanks to the staff of the Iron Gate Restaurant, Belmont, California, especially waiter Jason Flickinger, for your friendship and for always making sure this writer got the best table for a writer, table #10. (Writers don't always know what to order, but we always know where to sit.)

Hugs to Bob Kent.

Hugs to Caitie and Christopher Kimsey.

Thanks to Dana Kimsey for your encouragement of this project.

Appreciation to Michael Kimsey for your invaluable insights regarding San Francisco while I was doing research for this novel.

Appreciation to Rob Komas.

My love to the Kueffer-Moore Family: Ruby, Larry, Roger, Carol, Norman, Dylan, and Sophia Moore. The late Bruce Kueffer was a dear friend. Your family means the world to me.

Appreciation to Rick Landers, Modern Guitar Magazine.

My love forever to the late Patt Law, La Honda, California.

Thanks to Bill at Main Street Grill, Half Moon Bay, California, for always singing.

Hugs to Randie Marlow.

Hugs to Glenda McBride.

Hugs to Billy Merryman.

Hugs to Lezlee & George Miller.

Appreciation to Dr. Steve Miller.

Hugs to Mirada Band, Miramar, California. (Susan Pate, Howard Lieberman, and Dave Solhaug.)

My love to Ray O'Connor, San Diego, California, or wherever you are Ray!

Appreciation to Olga's Gallery for allowing us to display images of Vincent van Gogh's paintings on our web page. All the van Gogh painting images we display are courtesy of Olga's Gallery.

My love to Barbara and Carlo Pacini.

My love to Rina Pacini.

My love to Sally Paulsen, incredible artist, incredible friend.

Hugs to Amada Perez.

Thanks to the wonderful people of Pescadero, California.

Thanks to Terry Plank.

Hugs to Trish Powell.

Thanks to Rudy Ramirez, one of my American Indian-Ethnic Studies teachers.

Hugs to Dominique Reeves.

Hugs to Evelyn Rich.

Thanks to Leslie and Ron Rose for allowing your daughter, Scarlett, to sing on the Emma's Love Letters music CD.

Hugs to the staff of the Rotacare Clinic, Half Moon Bay, California, for always cheering me on and for wishing the best for this book/CD endeavor.

Appreciation to Savannah Bee Company, Savannah, Georgia. Ted Dennard and Clay Culver, Savannah, Georgia, and Cole Ollinger, New York, New York. Like Alexander, we are hooked on your amazing Tupelo honey.

Hugs to Dorothy Schroeder.

Hugs to Vangie Schumann.

Hugs to Marvin Smith.

Thanks to Janis Stevens for allowing us to use the image of your gardenia painting on our website.

Warm appreciation to Victoria Strauss.

Hugs to Jerry Swafford.

Hugs to Ruthie Taylor.

Appreciation to University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) Hospital, San Francisco, California.

Thanks to Susan Hopkins and James Ward for allowing your son, Christopher Hopkins-Ward, to be part of the Emma's Love Letters music CD project.

Love to Donna and Rick Webb.

Love to Joyce and Bill Webb.

Hugs to Frank and Kathrine Wright. Love to Christine (Matecki) Wynkoop, our "Stay Gold" girl.

Great appreciation to Dr. Luis A. Yerovi, Jr., Tupigachi, Ecuador.