Saving Meghan(118)

So that’s what I’m doing. I’m opening my heart again. I’m moving forward, one small step at a time. Your mom is going to be at the wedding. She’s married, too, did you know? And I hope that you’ll be there as well, a smiling angel looking down on us all. I love you always.

—Dad





ACKNOWLEDGMENTS


Writing is said to be a lonely profession, but publishing could hardly be considered a solo endeavor. With that sentiment in mind, I offer thanks and gratitude to the multitudes of people who lent their time, talents, and expertise to help bring this work of fiction to the printed page.

I’ll begin with a heartfelt thanks to the team at the Jane Rotrosen Agency: my agent Meg Ruley; Rebecca Scherer and Jane Berkey, who have stuck by my side through the years, encouraged me to dig deeper when I felt I’d already reached bottom, and to trust the process, which has yet to steer me wrong. Thanks also to Danielle Prielipp, for giving my stories a global reach, and Christine Prestia and the rest of the team at JRA, for keeping the business side of the operation running smoothly.

A special thank-you goes to Jennifer Enderlin, my editor, who has been a constant source of encouragement, a wealth of wisdom, and a steadfast advocate. I’m one grateful writer. Jen, you’ve done more for my family and me than I can adequately convey, so a simple thank-you will have to suffice.

Thanks also to my mother and Zoe Quinton, who read each word with a thoughtful eye toward how I could write it better. Dr. David Grass, my uncle and a dear friend, helped me conceptualize this story, provided medical expertise, and worked with me as I juggled the plot, characters, and various storylines in the semiartful, often fumbling quest to bring verisimilitude to the novel. To that end, I extend my gratitude as well to Dr. Jay Woody, who, thanks to a chance encounter at a watering hole on a Caribbean vacation, agreed to read the manuscript in draft form and discovered some issues that I was more than happy to correct. Thanks also to Dr. Joel Solomon, who helped me plan a daring escape, and to Patrick Fitzgerald, who acted as my legal eagle.

While this is a story about what can happen when parents go up against a hospital, it is really about family and the power of love. To that end, I thank with all my heart my family: my wife, Jessica, and my children, Benjamin and Sophie, who are a constant source of inspiration and a guiding force that gives my life shape and meaning.

Lastly, I thank you, dear reader, for whom I am here to entertain, enthrall, and thrill, and to that end, I hope I have exceeded your expectations—wildly so at that.

—D. J. Palmer, New Hampshire





ABOUT THE AUTHOR


D. J. PALMER is the author of numerous critically acclaimed suspense novels. After receiving his master’s degree from Boston University, he spent a decade as an e-commerce pioneer before turning his attention to writing. He lives with his wife and two children in New Hampshire where he is currently at work on his next novel. You can sign up for email updates here.