Come Back To Me (25 page)

Acknowledgments

The idea for the story within these pages came to me while I was running down State Highway in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, just months before my husband was scheduled to leave for a tour in Iraq. The story evolved as I wrote, and the Iraqi women became very important characters. I hope that I did them justice. I verified the Arabic terms used and the clothing and mannerisms portrayed with soldiers who spent time in Iraq and with the Iraqi civilians who worked with them. Many provided answers through others, sometimes in passing, during conversations in the medical facility on base. Unfortunately, those who passed on the information hadn’t realized that names were important for acknowledgments. For all of those who reached out and took the time to research and guide me from afar, thank you. This book could not have come to light without your efforts. I’d be remiss if I did not also thank Hadear Kandil, a woman I’ve never met and with whom I’ve only tweeted. She was kind enough to answer my terminology questions when she had no idea who I was.

There are so many people who have stood by my side during these past few years as I’ve grown as a writer, and I hope I do not miss mentioning anyone. In case I do, I hope you know me well enough to realize that you are in my heart, and I deeply appreciate you all.

My mind often works faster than my fingers, and my good friend and editor, Dominique Agnew, is always there to make me look good. Thank you, Dominique. Many thanks to Christine Von Ditter, a formatting genius, and to Frauke Spanuth, my amazing cover designer. A special thank you to my incredibly supportive literary agent, Jenny Bent. To my beta readers and the women on The Women’s Nest, who never fail to amaze me with their unending support and willingness to help me work through scenes, listen to me gripe, and not get turned off when my days are filled with word counts and discovering new adjectives. Thank you, Pat, Deb, Paula, Gina, Clare, Jessie, Jackie, Kian, Nel, MaryAnn, DJo, Syl, Jan, and all the other Nest sisters. Thank you, Clare Karsteadt and Kian Vencill, for always having my back. Virtual hugs to M.J. Rose and Carrie Green, who have selflessly helped me with my career without asking for anything in return. I would also like to thank trusted readers who caught errors and provided guidance, and authors who were kind enough to read my work: Joan Diamond, Sue Harrison, Kathie Shoop, and Kaira Rouda. A special thank you to my mother, Hilde Alter, who provides feedback so straightforward and honest that it takes me by surprise, and who is always right (truly, she is).

To the multitude of friends that I have made on Twitter and Facebook who encourage me, support my efforts, play my silly games, and retweet my tweets, you inspire me each and every day, and for that, I will be forever grateful. To my WoMen’s Literary Café ShareTheLove crew, bless each one of you. I wish I could name you all, but there just isn’t space.

I have an enormous family and want to thank them all for believing in me just because they love me: my brothers, Adam, Jon, Dale, Joel, Seth, and Elliott, my stepfather, Colin, my aunts and uncles, and cousins, and, of course, my grandparents who are no longer with us but are in my heart. Thank you. Steve and Sandy Foster, I am so lucky to have you in my life. Jane DeVito, thank you for being excited about my work and for taking the time to read my books.

Gratitude doesn’t begin to touch on the feelings I have for my immediate family members who talk me through the moments when I’m not sure I have what it takes, who kiss me goodnight when my fingers are glued to the keyboard, and who would love me even if I didn’t write. Les, Jess, and Jake, you are my biggest fans (rivaling my mother, of course) and I appreciate your support. Thank you to my big kids who are busy with their own lives but make time to congratulate me on my efforts and pretend to be interested: Noah, Zach, Brady, and Devyn.  I love you all.

Lastly, I’d like to thank my readers. Your emails make me smile, your book clubs make for fun gatherings, and I will always write for you.

About the Author

Melissa Foster is the award-winning author of three International bestselling novels. She is the founder of the
Women's Nest
, a social and support community for women, the
World Literary Café
, and
Fostering Success
. Melissa enjoys chatting with book clubs and readers, and welcomes you to contact her via her website.

www.MelissaFoster.com

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