Money to Burn

Acknowledgments

Money to Burn IS A FIRST NOVEL OF SORTS-MY FIRST WITH SALLY Kim, my new editor at HarperCollins. If you enjoyed it, give her the credit. If not, blame my agent, Richard Pine. It was Richard who shot me an e-mail way back in 2007 and started me down the road of a “Wall Street thriller”-long before anyone saw the real-world crisis coming. The guy is that good.

My thanks also to editorial assistant Maya Ziv; to my assistant, Marie McGrath; and to my early readers, Janis Koch, Jeff Roberts, and Gloria Villa. I also had plenty of help along the way from New Yawkers like Julie Fisher, and from a few financial good guys (David McWilliams, Jeff Roberts, Jim Jiao, Mike Moran, and others) who were of more help than they realize. Of course, the mistakes are all mine.

My deepest appreciation goes to Gloria and James V. Grippando, my parents, part of the greatest generation-two “ants” who could teach “grasshoppers” plenty. I wrote most of the outline for Money to Burn while at my father’s bedside, then banged out the book after his passing. To the end, he smiled about what he had, never griping about what he’d lost. His strength of character found its way into Money to Burn in ways I may never fully understand. He certainly gave me a unique perspective as, in the name of “research,” I watched Wall Street implode in real time. I loved him dearly and miss him terribly, and through Michael Cantella’s “Papa,” I feel his spirit on the pages of this book.

Finally, I thank my wife, Tiffany. Finding the creative juices to write a novel in “My Least Favorite Year” was no easy feat. I daresay it would have been impossible without her love and support.

JMG, MAY 2009