Saving Cecil (27 page)

Acknowledgments

I couldn't have written
Saving Cecil
without lots of help. First let me thank everyone at Llewellyn Worldwide/Midnight Ink, especially my editors, Terri Bischoff and Nicole Nugent. Besides being very patient regarding delays due to my two children getting married in the same year, both are excellent at what they do. Kimberley Cameron, my agent, deserves a big hand for sticking with me.

Russ Patterson, founder and past president of Patterson Exploration Services in Sanford, NC, was an endless font of information and imaginative ideas. No one knows more about the history and lore of Lee County gas exploration than he. On all questions of a geologic nature, my good friend Lee J. Otte Ph.D., C.P.G., Senior Geologist at Otte Enterprises, was quick with answers. My husband deserves a nod for tirelessly answering questions about cars, trucks, and things that go vroom! As always, Mardy Benson, retired captain, Johnston County Sheriff's Department, was generous with his time and advice on criminal matters.

Without Bob Murray's maps to pique our imagination, the Cleo Cooper Mystery Series wouldn't be half as much fun. And, lastly, Tammy McLeod was invaluable as an early reader and should definitely quit her day job to become a line editor.

Thanks again to all of you!

Finally, any mistakes in the book are mine entirely.

About the Author

Lee Mims holds bachelor's and master's degrees in Geology from the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, and she once worked as a field geologist. Lee is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.
Saving Cecil
is her third novel. Currently a popular wildlife artist, Lee lives in Clayton, North Carolina. Visit her online at LeeMims.com.