Chasing Amanda

Sometimes at night, Tracey would close her eyes and try to remember all of the things about her life underground with Mummy, but it was like someone had taken an eraser and erased almost everything. She could remember the dirt floors and walls, and the outside place, but she had trouble remembering what she had done all day and what was in each of the rooms—although she did remember the cart that she’d wanted to use as a baby carriage. Tracey reminded herself to pray for Kate every time she went to church with her family. She couldn’t remember the whole prayer she’d said with Kate, and that bothered her sometimes, but she remembered the last part of it, and at night, when she was alone in her bedroom, she’d close her eyes and pray, “We thank You that when we call upon You, You will answer us, be with us.”

Acknowledgments

It takes special people to provide unending support and unyielding belief. I’d like to thank all of the people who have touched my life over the past few years. Chasing Amanda would not be published if not for Geraldine Solon, who recommended me to Solstice Publishing, and Melissa Miller, for finding my work worthy of her company’s representation.

I could not have written such a strong story without the help of my good friend and editor, Dominique Agnew, or without the help of my trusted beta readers, whom I’m sure I drove crazy with varying renditions of the manuscript: Hilde Alter, Doreen Guarino, Cathy Hunter, Ave Parnell, Maria Meyers, Beth Grimmett, Alison Rotich, and, of course, my husband, Les Foster.

A special thanks goes out to all of my site sisters on The Women’s Nest who have been there for me during the toughest of times, giving me encouragement to continue writing, and providing their opinions along the way: Clare Karstaedt, Sharon Spearo, Jacklyn Reed, Kian Vencill, Linda Markley, Jessie Ford, and so many other warm, encouraging women.

Many of the historical facts about Boyds were relayed to me by Arthur Virts, a man who knows more than one can imagine about his hometown.

Retired Lieutenant Michael Mancuso of the Germantown Police Department was kind enough to answer my questions, and any and all mistakes about police procedures are mine and mine alone.

A hearty thank you to Wayne Bierbaum, Amanda Bergner, and Elizabeth “Bizzy” Seay (and her parents) for taking the perfect cover shot for the novel.

I’d also like to thank my good friends Greg and Dale Cassidy and Brooke Rendzio (and her parents) for all of their help in providing cover options.

Lastly, my family has stood behind me, sometimes laughing at me and other times laughing with me. They’ve helped me to develop scenes, and allowed me to spend endless hours in front of my keyboard. Thank you for loving me enough to see this novel through to publication. I truly believe I’m the luckiest woman on this planet to be blessed with each of you: my mother, Hilde Alter, my husband, Les, and our children, Noah, Zach, Brady, Devyn, Jess, and Jake.

Melissa Foster is the author of two novels, Megan’s Way and Chasing Amanda. She is the founder of the Women’s Nest, a social and support community for women, and is currently collaborating with a director to create a script for Megan’s Way. Melissa is working on her next book, and lives in Maryland with her family.

WWW.MELISSAFOSTER.COM

Cover photography by Wayne Bierbaum