Writing can be a lonely business. However, I’m fortunate to be supported by a cast of characters:
My mom, who always tells me how proud she is and keeps me laughing at her stories of accidentally stealing cars and hitching rides with ice cream trucks. (Where else would I have learned humor?)
To Bob, Mom’s husband, who is still trying to teach me to drive around the block. (It was a confusing block.)
My dad, who swears he’s entitled to half my royalties because I inherited my art of “making up crap” from him. (Well, he is a contractor.)
My supportive husband—model for all my heroes. (I told him you wouldn’t buy that.)
My son, who actually loves that his personal experiences are fair game. (I couldn’t make that stuff up.)
My daughter, who tolerates my taking pictures of her feet for my Web site. (Don’t ask.)
My son-in-law, who, as far as I know, has only denied knowing me twice. (My daughter chose well.)
My writing buddies, Jo Anne & Colleen, who listen to me whine and seldom hang up on me.
My Old Timers lunch bunch, who tolerate my endless chatter about writing, and love me in spite of my being the youngest.
My critique partners, Jody, Suzan, Nancy & Teri, who work diligently at getting the Alabamian out of my dialogue. (Their support is priceless—but I ain’t giving ’em a raise.)
To Faye, a co-writer on our nonfiction book, a critique partner from hell, and a sister in all my crimes. (She denies any affiliation with this book unless it gets good reviews.)
My police advisor, Lt. D. R. “Duke” Adkins Jr., HPD, who tolerates questions like, “What kind of gun would have a barrel about the same size as a super absorbent tampon?” (Thanks, Duke!)
My agent, Kim Lionetti, who admits I scare her but hasn’t fired me. Yet.
To editor Leah Hultenschmidt, who threatened to buy me if Chris didn’t, and to the amazing Dorchester team who make me look good.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Books by Christie Craig
Excerpt from Divorced, Desperate and Dangerous
Excerpt from Reborn
About the Author
Chapter One