Dead Man Dancing

Acknowledgements

Thanks, as always, to my husband, Barry, who really didn’t want to take ballroom dancing lessons, but did anyway. Honey, you’re better than you think.

To Petre and Roxana Samoila, ballroom dance instructors and performers on the Queen Mary 2, who made it look easy. It isn’t.

To Jennifer Gooding of the Annapolis Dance Academy in Arnold, MD, for an insider’s view of a successful dance studio, and for putting up with my endless questions.

To Helen Arguello, dance show fan extraordinaire, who took the time to tell me about her favorites; and to Carol Chase, who faithfully taped British versions of the same, so I wouldn’t miss a single step.

To my talented niece, Alisha Kay Robinson, who auditioned for American Idol and came oh-so-close, for a look behind the scenes.

To Captain George Clifford, CHC, USN Retired, and Rear Admiral Byron Holderby, CHC, USN Retired, for keeping me on the liturgically correct path, both military and otherwise.

To my sister-in-law, Camille Tracey, and my husband, Barry, who have attended more Catholic funeral services than anyone ever ought.

To my daughter, Laura Geyer, whose satirical wit and biblical knowledge gave me Jeremy Dunstan in all his evangelical glory.

To Denise Swanson, for the title.

And to Aaron Smith for the sandwiches.

If I got it wrong, it’s my fault and not theirs.

To Phil and Susanne Watkins of ‘Tradewinds’ on idyllic Dickie’s Cay, Abaco, Bahamas in a corner of whose bunkhouse nearly half of this book was written.

To my Annapolis writers’ group – Janet Benrey, Trish Marshall, Mary Ellen Hughes, Ray Flynt, Sherriel Mattingly, Thomas Sprenkle, and Lyn Taylor – for tough love.

To my web diva and lunch buddy, Barbara Parker. Come see what Barbara can do at www.marciatalley.com.

To Alicia B. Sweeney, yoga instructor, dancer, choreographer, and actress, whose generous bid at a charity auction sponsored by the Friends of the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra bought her the right to play a role in this book.

To Elaine Viets, whose cat, Mysterie, will play the role of Bella de Baltimore in the movie version of Dead Man Dancing.

And to Kate Charles and Deborah Crombie, without whom…