Privateer's Apprentice (18 page)

From hereon, I intend to sketch daily what lies before me so that when we reach England, the Captain can show our Queen all that awaits her to command in the New World. I pray she will be pleased with my work and reward the Captain with a new commission to sail in her name. It is a mighty world that lies beyond Crossed Island and Charles Towne, and the Captain says I must seek it with him and Peep
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One day, I will return to Crossed Island. Already, I long to feel its fine-grained sand beneath my feet and hear the rustling of willows on the dunes. There is still much to learn about the island. Peep will not say exactly how he escaped from the cave. I ask from time to time, but his only reply is that my nose is too long
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Last night, while the others slept, I pulled out the parchment on which I had written of my days in Charles Towne's jail. I am grateful when I read the lettering on the pages and feel the raised marks from the ink. Though I may never follow in my father's trade, his gift of lettering is one I shall have always; it is a powerful feeling to know my memories will never be cast into the wind
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—JMC

A huge thank you to my family, particularly my husband Jerry, who believed in me and this story, and my sons, Gerard and Keith, who had to share me with Jameson for a good long while. Thank you to my mother, Jean Connors, who read a very rough manuscript and offered positive feedback, and my sister Jeannie, who never once rushed me off of the phone when I wanted to read “just one paragraph” to her. I'd also like to acknowledge my brothers, Jimmy and Tommy, native Floridians who answered numerous vague questions about beaches and wildlife without realizing they were helping me out.

A heartfelt thanks to all of my friends who patiently listened to me go on and on about pirates and privateers; I hesitate to try to list names in fear that I might leave someone out, but you will recognize who you are when I say these conversation filled our nightly walks around the block, our daily phone conversations after the kids left for school, our beach days, and our weekly drives to the mall.

To my agent, Caryn Wiseman of Andrea Brown Literary Agency: thank you so much for having faith in this story and for your advice and relentless efforts on its behalf. The journey was long, but you never gave up.

To the editorial staff of Peachtree Publishers, and particularly Kathy Landwehr, thank you for selecting my book and for your efforts in bringing it to fruition. Kathy, your gentle approach in asking questions or making comments made the editorial process a breeze for me. I am still in awe of your keen eye for consistency with details.

And finally a special acknowledgement to my fifth grade teacher whose assignment to compose a story using the weekly vocabulary words ignited my passion and love for writing. That I can still recall writing the story and reading it to the class speaks of what it meant to me.

—Susan Verrico