Family Inheritance (39 page)

As Anna's spirit left this world, she whispered through the gentle breeze, “I'll
be with you, my daughters. I'll always be with you.”

Acknowledgments

It takes a team of people to transform a manuscript into a book, and I've had an
amazing team with me on my journey from writer to author. Eternal gratitude goes
to my my editor, Allison Itterly, and my publisher, Katy Whipple, for their patience,
knowledge, and talent as we tweaked and honed to get the story to where it needed
to be. Helene, Alice, Suzanne, and I all thank you.

A big thank you to the rest of the team with BQB Publishing—Heidi Grauel, Dave Grauel,
and Robin Krauss. Each one of them added their expertise and their hearts to help
me bring this project to fruition.

Love and heartfelt thanks to Glenn Leidich, my wonderful husband and friend, for
encouraging my passion to write, dealing with my frustrations and self-doubts during
the process, and understanding when I stayed in my pajamas for an entire weekend,
locked away with my computer and my manuscript.

My daughter Lori Lee has always been my biggest fan and read the manuscript so many
times before I submitted it that she knows these characters as well as I do. Her
love and support kept me moving forward.

Deep appreciation goes to my own mom who is no longer with us. From her, I learned
strength, persistence, and determination. And a special recognition and thank you
to my own siblings—Darlene, Beverly, Mike, Kathleen, Pamela, and Brian—for the memories,
struggles, triumphs, and family inheritance that we all share.