ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Many thanks to Janis Ian for allowing me to quote her lyrics and for the enthusiasm she's expressed for this book; love to you both, Janis and Pat. My thanks to those who read the text and gave me permission to quote their comments: John Clute, Bob Eggleton, Jael, David Langford, Vera Nazarian and N. Lee Wood. Some of these stories were assisted by discussion over the years at the Milford (UK) Writers' Conference and at various Bl*ts; thanks to all who participated. My thanks, too, to the magazine and anthology editors who had the faith to publish these stories in the first place; Lou Anders was a particular encouragement at the late, lamented Bookface website. Bob Katz, my editor at Willowgate Press, first publisher of this book, was a delight throughout; a special thanks also to Lynn Katz. My daughter Jane read many of these stories when they were they were still fresh, raw and bleeding, and her advice helped me staunch a plethora of wounds. And my wife Pam puts up with me; I'd say she was an angel for doing so but they don't make angels that good.
—JG