Long Gone

A Special Note of Thanks to My Readers

O nce again, I want to thank my readers, without whom I would not have the privilege of being a published writer. Were it not for you, I might wake up one morning to find myself out of work like Alice Humphrey (albeit hopefully without the dead bodies and whatnot). Thank you for continuing to read and to support my work.

I’ve gotten to know many of my readers through my Web site, Facebook, and Twitter. I’m so appreciative of the community we have built online and thank Holden Richards at Kitchen Media and Catherine Cairns of Cairns Designs for their technical assistance. If you read my books and haven’t yet connected to this community, I hope you’ll do so.

Some readers have even accepted my ongoing invitation to serve as online kitchen cabinet, helping me think through decisions like Long Gone ’s title and the always-stressful selection of a new author headshot. For their helpful (and fun) kitchen-cabinet comments during the writing of Long Gone, I thank the following readers: Alice Jackson, Alison Janssen, Alromaithi Mohammed, Amber McDonald, Amber York, Anastacia Kipp, Andrea Wilson, Andy Gilham, Angie Thomas-Davis, Ann Turner, Anne Madison, Anthony N. Smith, April Smith, Ashton Laurent, Aude Dupré de Boulois, Audrey Pink, Barb Juarez, Barb Mullen Gasparac, Barbara Bryan, Barbara Detwiler, Barbara Pease Claypool, Barbara Theroux, Barbara Vink, B. C. Creighton, Becky Cemper, Becky Doshier Gallimore, Becky Morganstern, Bert Shapiro, Beth Stack, Bev Murphree, Beverly Bryan, Beverly Vick, Bill Horn, Bill Strider, Bill Tipping, Billie Ruth Walker, Billy Bob Billy, Bob Campbell, Bonnie D. Tharp, Bonnie Graham, Bonnie Powell Morningstar, Bren Sugar, Brenda LeSage, Brent Watson, Brian Fingerson, Brian Shrader, Bridget Cagan Herron, Bruce DeSilva, Bud Palmer, Candi Hartley-Hall, Candice Lamb, Carl Christensen, Carmen Munger, Carol Clark, Carol Johnsen, Carol Maddox, Carol O’Gorman, Carol Pennell, Carole Sauer, Carrie Weston, Cassie Ane, Catherine Kit Smither Norr, Cathy Carmouche, Chad Huckabaa, Charlotte Gray, Chaun Santoriello, Cheryl Boyd, Cheryl Fortune, Cheryl Gladen, Chris Cooper Cahall, Chris F. A. Johnson, Chris Knake, Chris Ozment, Chris Starkman, Chris Toft, Christel Verret Mollere, Christine Caillet, Christine Pernetti, Christopher Clarke, Chuck Palmer, Cindy Daniel, Cindy Marshall Sabin, Cliff Miller, Connie Ross Ciampanelli, Connie Williams Claus, Constance McClure, Courtney E. McIntyre, Craig Pittman, Curtis Ensler, Cyndi Sieber, Cynthia Poley Parran, Dani Leonor, Danny Nichols, Daphne Anne Humphrey, Darcy Lafferty Justice, Daryl McGrath, Dave Davis, David Bell, David Booker, David Hale Smith, David Hansard, David MacClure Conrad, David Maidstone, David Pinter, Dawn Lattimore, Deb Gravette Threadgill, Debbie Ballou Sladek, Deborah Burge, Debra Belmudes, Debra Manzella, Den Terwilliger, Dennis Leleux, Dennis Siler, Diana Bosley, Diana Taylor, Diane Griffiths, Diane Quilghini, Diane Simmons, Dianne Wisner, Dick Droese, Dodie Osbourne, Don Boynton, Don Nations, Donna Bagdasarian, Donna E. Stephenson, Donna Reed Enders, Douan Thomas, Dru Ann L Love, Dudley Forster, Dwayne K Workman, Dwight Lee Spencer, E.j. Copperman, Elaine Roberts Razo Videau, Elena Shapiro Wayne, Elizabeth A. Olesen, Elizabeth A. White, Elizabeth Julia, Ellen Sattler Harpin, Ellis Vidler, Elyse Dinh, Erin Mitchell, Ethel Rodenberger, Eva Björnberg, Evelyn Lavelle, Evelyn Petree, Faye DeBlanc, Fran Burget, Frans Carlson, Gabrielle Reynolds, Gail Mackey Pick, Garret Gannuch, George Reid, Geraldine Evans, Gerry Brown, Gianna Mack, Glenn Eisenstein, Greg Byington, Greg Skipper, Gretchen Gfeller, Gunter Kaesdorf, H. Lyndon Arledge, Harry Hunsicker, Hayden Wakeling, Heather Brister Megehee, Helen Pate, Helene Goodwin Clausz, Ilene Ratcheson Ciccone, Irja Orav, Isabel Leek, J. D. Rhoades, Jackie Schmidt, Jacqueline May, Jacques Stenvert, James Jensen, James L. Stratton, James R. Bradbrook, James Willis, Jana Johnson, Jane Davis, Jane Moran, Janet Anne Montz-Dubis, Janet Reid, Janice Gable Bashman, Jann Sherman-Lassman, Jay Drescher, Jayne Starkey, Jean Tate, Jeanne Adcox Lockett, Jeanne Bielke-Rodenbiker, Jeanne King Hendrickson, Jeanne Warpinski, Jeannette Badillo, Jen Forbus, Jen Sale, Jen Volz, Jenine Kerr, Jennifer Baxter Weil, Jennifer Billey, Jennifer Houlihan, Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Little Beck, Jennifer Jones, Jenny Drew, Jenny Spiva Rainwater, Jerri Leppert Hernandez, Jerri Leppert Hernandez, Jim Cox, Jimbob Niven, Jo Ann Nicholas, Jo Johnston, Jo McDermott, Joan Nichols Green, Joan Tregarthen Huston, Joan Vernola, JoAnn Frazier Cole, Jodi Olson, Jody Bacon Sanders, Jody Daffinrud, Jody Maxwell, Joe Carter, Joe Messinger, John Borman, John Colgrove, John Corson, John Decker, John Elder, John Flynn, John Haragan, John Jones, John Montag S. J., John Sporri, Johnnie McHan, Jon Carnero, Jon Smanz, Jon Horton, Jon Jordan, Jon Schuller, J. Padgett, J. T. Ellison, Jude Hardin, Judith Hogan, Judith McCarrick, Judy Aschenbrand, Judy Bush, Judy Gehrig, Judy Peterson McAferty, Judy Waren Bryan, Jules White, Julie Donner Schuenemann, Julie Ebinger Hilton, Kara Hudson, Karen Allison, Karen Clarkson, Karen Clarkson Clay, Karen Olson, Karen Harvey, Karen L. Randall, Karen Linder Catalona, Karen Nason Abdulfattah, Kathleen Scurlock, Kathryn Casey, Kathryn Long, Kathy Collings, Kathy Goodridge Poulin, Kathy Hepler, Kayla Painter, Kenneth McAlister Sr., Kercelia Fletcher, Kerry Maddux, Kevin Eoff, Kim Bonnesen, Kim McCully Mobley, Kim Peifley, Kimberly Cook Wright, Kristen Howe, Kristine Mosher Tarrow, Kristyn Broussard Moore, Lanie Accles, Larry Ober, Larry Chavis, Laura Bostick Weber, Laura Lippman, Laura Piros McCarver, Laura Taylor, Leah Guinn, Leigh Hunt, Lenice Wolowiec Valsecchi, LeRoy Spicer, Les Donaldson, Lesley Sacher, Linda Careaga, Linda Connell, Linda Flannery, Linda Gilmer, Linda Hammitt-Salmi, Linda Jo DuPree, Linda Langdon Floyd, Linda Mitchell, Linda Moore, Linda Napikoski, Linda Nichols, Lindsay Vail, Lisa Bischke Neumann, Lisa Fowler, Lola Troy Fiur, Lori Anderson Mills, Lori Taylor, Louis Hillary Park, Lovada Marks Williams, Lynn Ashworth Peters, Lynn Hirshman, Lynne Healy, Lynne Victorine, Maralie Waterman BeLonge, Margaret Bailey, Margaret Franson Pruter, Margaret Palkovits Weber, Maria Hoffman, Maria Johnson, Marilyn Hambrecht, Marilyn Parker, Marion Montgomery, Marion Shaw, Marissa Wiley, Mark Henderson, Mark Hendricks, Mark Lichtenberger, Marleen Kennedy, Marlene Greenberg Lamancuso, Marlyn Beebe, Marni Curtis, Martha McConnell Greer, Martha Stephenson La Marche, Martyn James Lewis, Mary Alice Gorman, Mary Espenschied, Mary Frances Bass Jay, Mary Hohulin, Mary Marino-Strong, Mary Olson, Mary Phillips, Maryann Mercer, Maryellen Hannah, Matt Shaw, Matt Wieland, Maureen Wiley Apfl, Melissa Towe Downing, Merle Gornick, Mev Wilson, Michael Bok, Michael Cotton, Michael Rosenthal, Michael Sladek, Michael W. Sherer, Michael Walter, Michell Verduzco, Michelle L Ross, Michelle Moran, Michelle Phillips, Micki Fortenberry Dumke, Mike Houston, Mike McPeak, Mitch Smith, Nancy Laughlin, Nancy M. Hood, Naomi Dorris Houston, Naomi Johnson, Naomi Waynee, Neal LeBaron, Nick Christie, Nicola Trwst, Nidia Hernandez, Nik Nikkel, Nils Kristian Hagen Jr., Nisha Sharma, Nita Lapinski, Owen Weston, P. J. Feinson, Paddi Burke, Pam Davidson Reimer, Pamela Jarvis, Pamela Pescosolido, Pamela Picard, Pat Neveux, Patricia Burns Porter, Patrick Riley, Patti James Anderlohr, Patti MacDonnell, Patti Neal Blackwood, Patty Luecke, Paul Deyo, Paul Feeney, Paula Daniel Steinbacher, Paula Friedman, Paula Rossetti, Penny Anderson McIntosh, Pepper Goforth, Phillip Jones, Phillis Spike Carbone, Phyllis Taylor Malone, Rachelle Gagné, Ramsey Burton Doran, Raymond Benson, Raymond Fundora, Rebecca S. Autrey, Rebecca Turman, Rebecca Woodbury, Reggie White, Renee James, Rhonda Leach Peterson, Rich Maxson, Richard Dory, Richard Reed, Rita Messina, Rob Friedman, Robert Carotenuto, Robert Carraher, Robert F. Klees, Robert Gooch, Robert Hartman, Robert J. Scheeler, Robert Ray, Roberta Boe, Roberta Clardy, Robin M. Healy, Robin Parsons Eastwood, Rocky Romeo, Rod Viator, Ron Cervantez, Ruby Jordon, Russ Cashon, Ruth Jordan, Ruth Miriampolski, Ruthie Vescoso, Sal Towse, Salli Schwartz, Sally Fortin, Samuel Perry, Sanam Dowlatdad, Sandie Herron, Sandie Hinkle, Sandra Cranmer, Sandra Jean Krna, Sandra Lee, Sandra Speller, Sandy Ebner, Sandy Plummer, Sara J. Henry, Sara Johann, Sara Thomas Simpson, Sara Weiss, Sarah LaPorte, Scott Irwin, Seale Ballenger, Shannon Anderson Crable, Shannon Keane English, Sharon Brown, Sharon Faith Graves, Sharon Swanson Magee, Shaun Slaathaug, Shawn McMichael Orgeron, Sheila Dawson, Sherree’ Scarlott, Sherri Merkousko, Sherri Young Coats, Sherrie L. Saint, Sherry Chaffin Rasmus, Sheryl Cooper, Sheryl Ditty Hauch, Shirley Grosor, Sidney C. Mansfield, Siobhan O’Shea, Sita Laura, Stephanie Glencross, Stephanie Mary Haskell Gleave, Stephen Scarbrough, Stephen Tremp, Steve Gonzales, Sue McLauchlan Faulkner, Sue Stanisich, Sue Torf, Sue Young Fulks, Susan Abe, Susan Anderson, Susan Lowe, Susan Marsh, Susan P. Bagley, Susan Purins Meuckon, Susan Ransom Grimes, Susie Cowan Hudson, Suzanne C. Dubus, Suzanne Collier, Suzanne Sheppard, Suzanne W. Goldstone, Suzee Neal, Tanya Currin Faucette, Tasha Alexander, Ted Myers, Tena Clark Faruque, Terri Bischoff, Terry Boatman, Tim Busbey, Tim Hanner, Tina Tenley, Tina Warren, T. J. Carrell, Tolfe Lee Albert, Tom Russell, Tommye Baxter Cashin, Tony Sannicandro, Tori Bullock, Traci Boeh Wickett, Traci Hohenstein, Trena Klohe, Trudy Peltier, Tyra Bradbury, Veronica Piastuch, Vickie Parshall, Victoria Waller, Viola Burg, Wallace Clark, Wallace Henry Wyeth, Walter Caldwell, Wayne Ledbetter, Wayne M. Blake, Wendy Brown, Wendy Hall, Will Thomas, William Brennan, William Bruner, and William Penrose.

I apologize for omitting names of other kitchen-cabinet participants, as I surely have, but please do know how much I appreciate your ongoing online support between books. See you on the interwebs!