Acknowledgements

In Loving Memory

Georgia Abrahamian, Charlotte Brewer, Katy Brown, and Patt Law

While I was writing this novel I lost four dear women who believed in my work. Aunt Georgia read the manuscript for this novel through many times. Her excitement for this story meant the world to me. She was so adorable that I wrote her into the text, the universal knight Anders has Georgia’s hair color, and he is Danish, of course. She passed away before I finished, but we talked about how the novel would end. I hold her beaming smile in my heart.

Charlotte was a valuable consultant for my first novel and she read 113 pages of this novel’s manuscript. She gave me wonderful suggestions for character development, especially for Paints-With-Words. Charlotte has enormously helped many authors; I am honored to have benefited from her vast expertise and her generous willingness to mentor writers.

My beautiful friend Katy was an awesome support to me for my first novel. She was too ill to read more than about one-half of this novel’s manuscript. I would mostly tell her character ideas; she would then tell me what to do. I listened, she was a sharp cookie. I miss her.

Patt wasn’t well enough to read any of this manuscript. I told her about the story, and shared some ideas about characters. She encouraged me and inspired me greatly. She was a sweetheart and funny, so funny.

Those of you who knew these beautiful women know how amazing they each were. They blessed and enriched my life.

To my husband Tim Christensen. I can never thank you enough for your constant support, endless encouragement, terrific sense of humor, and unwavering patience. You call yourself a “writer’s widower” and you have been so many times while I have been at the computer typing away. You are one of the most amazing people I have ever met and I love you. This novel exists because you personally made it possible for me to write it.

Appreciations, Thanks, and Love

Appreciation is due to many people. I apologize to anyone I may have unintentionally neglected to list.

My love and appreciation to Armen Abrahamian. You and Aunt Georgia were so incredible to me while I wrote this novel. You each read it repeatedly, you both gave great advice, and you both had faith in my writing. I love you Uncle Armen, you are the best. You never said “if” it gets published, you always said “when” it gets published.

Love to the Abrahamian family of Truckee and Auburn, California. Thanks for the wonderful encouragement.

Hugs to Kelly Allester, Help A Horse Organization.

Hugs to Wilma and Ken Allison.

Warm appreciation to Tchiya Amet.

Love to David Jonathan Arechiga-Pacini. You are my sunlight. (All the way up to the sky forever.)

Love to the Arechiga Family. (Dave Sr., Beth, Trisha, Brandon, Daniel, Joshua, Sara, and Adam.)

Hugs to Mary Avanti.

Warm appreciation to all the members of Blue Moon Literary & Art Review in Davis, California.

Hugs to Chief Silver Arrow, John Borrero, Jr.

Love to the Broderick Family (Dennis, Susan & Chad Broderick, and Ryan Frank.)

Hugs to Penny Broussard.

Warm appreciation to Bunny Sings Wolf.

Warm appreciation to Sonny Del Castillo. Thanks so much Sonny!

Love and big hugs to Bernida Childers. Bernida, your mentoring, editorial assistance, and encouragement has meant so much to me. Your keen eye caught mistakes and enriched this novel. Thank you.

Love to Bill Childers.

Warm appreciation to Derek Van Choice.

Love to Betty Christensen.

Love to Donna and Bud Christensen.

Love to Tim Christensen, Jr.

Love to Joe Christensen.

Hugs to Matt Cole.

Hugs to Erma and Rex Conner.

Hugs to Val Cornejo.

Tremendous appreciation to Paul Davids for your mentoring and encouragement. You are a light.

Hugs to Joanie Dean.

Hugs to the Dietiker family.

Hugs and love to Dylan.

Warm appreciation to Roslyn Ellison, Trenchtown Reading Centre in Jamaica.

Hugs to Lorne Epstein.

Warm appreciation and love to Gathering of Nations staff, especially Dr. Lita Mathews.

Hugs to Sha' Givens.

Love and hugs to Judy and Chuck Goodrich. Thank you Judy for your wonderful encouragement.

Warm appreciation to B. Lynn Goodwin.

Hugs to Rose and Ernie Guiseponi.

Love and hugs to the staff members and students of Guitars Not Guns (GNG).

Hugs to Arlo Hansen. Arlo, thank you for reading the manuscript and for the wonderful advice you gave to me.

Hugs and appreciation to Dr. Carol Hansen.

Hugs to Gene Hanten. Gene, thank you for sharing your wonderful music with us and for your support and encouragement. You are dear to us.

Hugs to Butch Holcombe.

Hugs to Ginger and Harold Hobday.

Hugs to Earl Hutchens.

Hugs to Deborah Juckes.

Hugs to YOUTH DREAM TEAM member Julie, Maryland, USA.

Hugs to Stacey Kannenberg.

Hugs to Jo Kelly.

Hugs to Bob Kent. Bob, thank you so much for your encouragement. We love ya!

Love to the Kueffer and Moore Family. (Ruby, Larry, Roger, Carol, Norman, Dylan, and Sophia.)

Warm appreciation to Rick Landers, Modern Guitar Magazine.

Hugs to Carl Loll.

Hugs to Anthony Matzke.

Hugs to Ken McAlpine.

Hugs to Glenda McBride.

Big hugs to Tommy Merry. Thank you for believing in my writing and for your unwavering encouragement.

Warm appreciation to Billy Merryman. Thank you for your time and your incredible talent. I hope we will work on future projects together. (Billy Merryman is the artist who illustrated the poster on this website for this novel.)

Warm appreciation to James Monahon, Shadagea Music.

Hugs to Sue and Buck Morgan.

Hugs to Arlene Neilsen.

Hugs to Casey O'Connor, The Golden Carrot Organization.

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

Love to Barbara and Carlo Pacini.

Love to Rina Pacini.

Hugs to Amada Perez.

Hugs to the staff of Personal Ponies International.

Hugs to Trish Powell.

Warm appreciation to Qua' ti' si' and Shadagea Music.

Warm appreciation to Martha Redbone.

Hugs to Evelyn Rich.

Hugs to Eva and Tel Roach.

Hugs to Ron Rose. Thanks for the encouragement Ron. You rock.

My love to the Rosebud Reservation children and young adults. (10% of the profits from this novel will be donated and specifically spent on the essential needs of children and young adults living on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota.)

Hugs to the staff of SaveDaHorses.

Hugs to Gerry Schook.

Hugs to Dorothy Schroeder.

Hugs to Vangie Schumann.

Warm appreciation to J.P. Selman (Nimchira), founder of Web of Life Enterprises, Inc.

Warm appreciation to the staff of Singing Moon Press.

Hugs to Marvin Smith.

Hugs to the staff of SSSSH, Secret Society of Serendipitous Service to Hal.

Warm appreciation to Victoria Strauss.

Hugs to Jerry Swafford.

Hugs to the Sword and the Spirit Band.

Hugs and love to my little Tangee.

Hugs to Ruthie Taylor.

Hugs to Mary Thresher.

Love to the youth at Trenchtown Reading Centre in Jamaica.

Hugs to Stephen Michael Verigood.

Hugs to Marlene and Lee Wageman.

Warm appreciation to Nancy Wang.

Love to the staff of WOLE: Web of Life Enterprizes, Inc.

Love to Donna and Rick Webb.

Love to Joyce and Bill Webb.

Hugs to Glen Western.

Warm appreciation to Tommy Wildcat.

Big hugs to author and YOUTH DREAM TEAM member Dallas Nicole Woodburn.

Hugs to Ardy Wright.

Hugs to Frank and Kathrine Wright.