I have so many people to thank that writing a gratitude page is an overwhelming task.   I could make an entire website filled with people I am grateful for.

    Thank you, Joe for believing in me.  Thank you for making me bookshelves, a website, doing the laundry and paying the bills.  Helping me with research was really nice too.  (wink wink.)  You ARE the perfect hero.

    Thank you, Mom, for reading all my early work and telling me it was wonderful and perfect even though it sucked.  Thank you for ALL your support, not just in my writing but in my life.

    Thank you, Dad, for paying for my trip to the RWA national conference even though you didn’t know you did.  (shhhh… nobody tell him!)

    Thank you, Babette deJongh, for being you - a wonderful critique partner, a friend, a confidant, a shoulder to cry on and a kick in the seat of the pants.

    Thank you, Betty Pichardo, for being so much more than an excellent critique partner.  Thank you for being a friend and a soul-sister.  Thank you for all of our long phone conversations.  May God bless you for being you.

    Thank you, Rita Gallagher, for starting RWA, for believing in me, for opening up your heart and your living room so struggling writers can learn the craft of putting together a great story.  Thank you for not pulling any punches in critique sessions.  I would have never made it this far without you.

    Thank you, Debbie Scheel, for teaching me how to open up from my closed shell.  Writing is a lifelong dream of mine, but I could never have even begun to write if you hadn’t taught me how to dance.  Your positive attitude, gentle correction and confidence in me have changed my whole life.

    And thank you Ron, for your encouragement and for taking me to the airport at the butt crack of dawn.

    Thank you, Paulette Heidbreder, for our Tuesday night dinner critiques.  You are an enormous encouragement and have amazing insight into crafting a good novel. 

    Thank you, Deanne, Wendy, Lori and Debbie for being my first readers. You have no idea how much I appreciate it!

    Thank you to the contest judges.  Your insight and encouragement keeps my head above water.  I know at times I have been lax about sending thank you cards…  please forgive me and know that EVERY comment you made (positive and negative) was very, very appreciated.  Thank you for donating your time and energy into helping other writers.  You are THE BEST!

    A special thanks to all the contest judges that gave Master of the Heart a perfect score! 

    Another special thanks to whoever the judge was for the Emily contest that gave me a “1” on “dialogue” with the comment “What dialogue?”  I have never forgotten that and it’s made me a much, much better writer.  Bless you for telling me the truth even though (ouch!) it hurt.

    Thank you RWA for being an incredible source for writers.  A special thank you to my local chapters – West Houston, RWA, Bay Area RWA and Northwest Houston.  What a wonderful group of writers!

    Thank you, Jack, Gretchen, Shane, Courtney, Kelsi and Dawn for all your help.

    Thank you, Mary Lou Johns, for being a fantastic coach!  

    Thank you, Eric Goldberg for being a wonderful friend and helping me concentrate.

    Thank you, Kay Austin for loaning me your wisdom and for putting a piece of yourself into my work.