Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I hope to be talking with you soon.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
(And More Than You Ever Wanted To Know About My Upcoming Books)
No man is an island. This makes my eleventh published work of fiction and the list of folks who’ve helped me along the way continues to grow. (I keep counting to keep track myself.)
I might never even have started this journey without the encouragement and support of author Melissa Storm, founder of Sweet Promise Press. At that time she had been invited by Amazon to create a Kindle World known as First Street Church. I wrote three books for that world, starting with Love’s Odds.
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It was among the First Street group of fellow authors that I met Jane Lebak and delved into the world of Gothic Romance—okay, maybe a little bit of Horror (but it shouldn’t keep you up at night!)—and together we wrote Hunger. I hadn’t realized collaboration could be such fun!
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In my earliest days as a published writer, another author, Barbara Goss, also reached out to me on Facebook and has guided me through some of the arcana of (shudder) publicity. You see, we “independent” authors are responsible for the entire process from writing, to editing, to proofreading, to publishing, and then to publicizing! That’s one of the reasons for the “review” plea above, and why we are all so grateful when you share books you like with others.
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Cheryl Wright, when she invited me to write for her Christmas Rescue series (set in the late 1800s in the west), became and remains another major mentor. I next joined her in her Widows, Brides, and Secret Babies series, of which this book is a part. The series is enjoying tremendous success, as title after title opens as a Best Seller or #1 New Release. And more projects are in the offing!
Cheryl also introduced me to Virginia McKevitt of Black Widow Books who does all of Cheryl’s covers, and has now done most of mine. Virginia has an uncanny knack for finding exactly the right model to represent the heroine in each book. You know just by looking at her that Celeste will cause mischief and mayhem!
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For the Yours Truly: The Lovelorn series, Marie Higgins brought inspiration with her “Dear Abby” concept with a 19th century twist. I must admit to being very fond of both my heroines in this series.
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All of these incredibly talented people, and many others, both from the past and currently, have provided a stunning amount of backing, ideas, and assistance, helping out with all manner of tricks of the trade. This amazing camaraderie, I have come to find, is not unusual—authors just seem to be warm, creative, and generous folks. Each of you has my undying gratitude.
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Additionally, my friends and family, especially my husband, my chief supporter to whom I have dedicated this story, have continued to abet my desire to pour my thoughts out on paper and its modern substitutes. They have to put up with my everyday whims and requests, so deserve special recognition for their patience and love.
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For this story I reached out for research help in areas with which I was unfamiliar, and want to add especial thanks to Rose Hale and Temperance Johnson for their assistance. And my husband and his friend Peter Crist rose to the occasion and beta read for me to help keep things in order!
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But most of all, you, the reader, make it worthwhile to share my thoughts and dreams as expressed by the characters who whisper in my ear. Thank you.
Elissa Strati
August 2020
AUTHOR’S NOTES
Doing research to avoid anachronisms is actually one of my favorite parts of writing. Thanks to the internet and access to millions of resources at the flick of a finger, it is possible to verify data rapidly and with a degree of accuracy, although there are times when an old-fashioned paper dictionary is what is truly wanted. Did you ever stand at an unabridged Webster’s on a stand and just browse the words on a page? Amazing!
I love learning and hope that you have enjoyed this trip into yesteryear. And please share with me if I’ve let inaccuracies creep in! Sometimes I get so wrapped up in the story my characters are telling me I forget to go back to be sure they got the details right.
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Both Union and Confederate gold disappeared during the Civil War, and there has been a great deal of speculation on what became of it. Real mysteries always make a good basis for a storyline!
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The Secret Service was founded in 1865:
The Secret Service's initial responsibility was to investigate the counterfeiting of US currency, which was rampant following the American Civil War. The agency then evolved into the United States' first domestic intelligence and counterintelligence agency. Many of the agency's missions were later taken over by subsequent agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and IRS Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Secret_Service
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Although the 19th Amendment passed on August 18, 1920, it didn’t become law until August 26, 1920, making August 26 Women’s Equality Day and this year, 2020, its 100th anniversary. But the suffrage movement was in full swing by the time of this novel and women were striving in many areas for recognition and equality.
I come from a long line of strong, independent women, so tend to use them as my heroines. Miranda’s goal of passing the bar was not, in fact out of reach, as can be seen from the
