LITMIR.BIZ

      Acknowledgements

      THIS BOOK WAS LOVED INTO BEING BY THE TEACHERS, friends, and family who believed I could do it even when I couldn’t yet. To Julie Ajalat, who said that when I was ready, I would leave and to Brad for helping me pack. To Mary and Armond for a place to stay and a fresh start and to all my family for their support.

      To my mom, Helen Stinson, for all the stories; and my dad, Choppie Stinson, who taught me to read and made it fun.

      To Tony Wolk for being a true teacher, a careful reader, fellow writer, and most of all, a friend.

      Thank you Rhonda Hughes (the She-Ra of editors) and Kate Sage, the fabulous independent publishers of Hawthorne Books, for the enthusiasm you bring to your work and the care you’ve taken to make this book real. And thank you to the brilliant designer, Adam McIsaac, for making my book look so pretty.

      To my second family, The Rosenberg / Broide / Vanderzwann / Killen connection!

      To my family of friends – Pat, Vern, Kurt, Anja, Kelly, Bill, Francisco, Ray-Ray, Jody, Keri, Liz, Lolly, the other Ben, Wendy and Lee, Molly, Mandee – thank you, yes you.

      Thanks to the English Department at Portland State University, especially AB Paulson, Michael McGregor, Carol Franks, Susan Reese, Lorraine Mercer, Craig Lesley, Liz Ceppi, Jennifer Ruth, Michelle Glazer, Nancy Porter, Greg Jacob, Dennis Stovall, Karen Kirtley, and Lake Boggan.

      I also want to thank the fabulous and dedicated professors, instructors, and staff of Portland State University. Clevonne Jackson and the Educational Opportunity Program, my adviser Frosti McClurken-Talley. To Professors Ken Ames, Tom Biolsi, Michelle Gambourd, Sharon Carstens, and David Johnson for the selfconfidence they fostered in me.

      Thank you Mike Bales for your careful reading and editorial skill.

      Thank you to Joni Mitchell for her amazing music.

      Thanks to Oregon Literary Fellowship for their generous support.

      To Zora Neale Hurston, Alice Walker, and Toni Morrison, your books changed my life.