Hound Dog True (11 page)

I had the good fortune of sharing this work at the Vermont College of Fine Arts Post-Grad Conference, the Vermont Studio Center's Vermont Artists and Writers Week, the Pacific Northwest Children's Book Conference, and a Highlights Foundation retreat. I am grateful to all of those organizations that make it possible for writers to find the time and space to connect with their work.

The folks at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt have been a joy to work with. I am especially indebted to my dedicated and insightful editor, Jeannette Larson, whose editorial wisdom could fill more notebooks than would fit under a king-size pillow.

My thanks to my uncle Hector LeBlanc, who provides care and supervision for a high school in Farmington, Michigan, and served as my source of custodial expertise. Thanks to Aunt Sharon and Uncle Joe, whose "Camp Sharon" gave me kid-free time to write.

My kids, Jack and Claire, are funny, complex, and inspiring people. They were hushed and shooed often during the creation of this book, and I want to tell them here, in print: Mama loves you more than she loves her manuscript.

Finally, to my husband, Julio Thompson, to whom this book is dedicated: thank you, honey, for your encouragement and support, and for always keeping an eye out for marauders.