Taking on a project concerning religion, in today’s world, is an ambitious task.  It would have been an impossible task without the help of friends, family, professionals in the field, clerics, people of faith, and doubters.

First and foremost, I thank my wife, Connie, and my children, Kate and Mike, who all provided hours upon hours of listening and invaluable insight in the formative stages.  Particular recognition and thanks are due to my wife’s sister, Ida Edwards Clayton, who pushed me to work with her for twelve-hour days during the final editing.  We both are of strong character; and the arguments over split infinitives, misplaced modifiers, and pronouns without antecedents would fill a book.  We came out of it knowing each other better, having developed a profound mutual respect.

Albert Kauslick produced the cover photo.  He is also a dear friend that lent his creativity and skill whenever asked.  Lee Barnes, Editor of the Burlington Times-News, not only took me on a tour of the newspaper's city room and printing press, but sat with me for a good while theorizing just what might happen if a letter from God actually appeared in their newspaper.

Mary I. Kilchenstein of ActiveVoiceEdit, who also goes by the pen name Mary Kirk, performed the first, invaluable critique of the work.  After giving enough praise to steel me for the lecture to come, she launched into a review of Creative Writing 101.  She taught me enough to inspire a complete rewrite of the first draft and coached me to enhance the dramatic tension immeasurably.  She virtually helped me clutch victory out of the jaws of defeat.

Judges Steven Balog and J. Kent Washburn helped me coalesce my thinking concerning the legal implications of the shift from God as a matter of belief to a matter of fact.  Ann Washburn added a healthy dose of skepticism to the book’s premise and told me, in no uncertain terms, what proof she would need to convince her that the storyline of this book was believable.  Her input is certainly represented.  Dot Hutelmeyer worked with me to understand the character Claire Medina.  Actually, Dot breathed life into Claire in a way I never could.

Thank you to Father Bob of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, the Reverend Sandra Lee Swift of the Center for Spiritual Living, the Reverend Larry E. Covington of the Ebenezer United Church of Christ, the Reverend M. Keith McDaniel of the Elon First Baptist Church, the Reverend Evaristo Lacerdo, Pastor Darrell Cox of the Trinity Worship Center, members of IIASA (a nonprofit educational institution affiliated with Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University of Saudi Arabia), members of the Islamic Center of Charlotte, Rabbi George Garten, and Kisor and Chandana Chakrabarti for their help in finding the common theme among belief systems as well as the unique voice of each of them.

I want to express my appreciation to Congressman Howard Coble and his staff, especially Janine Osborne for allowing me to spend time in the Rayburn House Office Building and the Capitol during my research in Washington DC.

I give thanks also to Elon University creative writing majors Ted Dodson and Carolyn Clark, along with religion and history major Patrick Moore.  They served as focus group, editors, and critics.  The shape of the novel is due in no small part to their efforts.  Thank you also to Dr. John Malcolm for consulting with me regarding the medical aspects of characters’ wounds, to Mary Kilchenstein of ActiveVoice Editing for pushing me as a novelist, and the Hon. Vic Euliss for his input into the mind of an honest and forthright human being.

I want to thank Bill Livesay, Chuck Basa, Valerie Fearrington, Elizabeth Reed, Gregory Saldanha, Gavin Saldanha, Jack Rutherford, Anna Gerow, Gary Cole, Jim Stiles, Craig Thompson, and Luke Allen for their input into the social, political, and philosophical aspects of the novel.

The final draft was copyedited by Chile Gadingan.  She did a thorough and professional job of putting on the finishing polish.  She and the entire staff at Xlibris publishing were highly responsive and encouraging throughout the publishing process.  Thanks and kudos to them.

Phenix & Phenix Lierary Publicists are doing an extraordinary job in getting not only the word out about the book, but getting my message out as well. 

Bailey-Shropshire Profesional Writing (and Marketing) Service has been doing an excellent job in helping me to become known in local writing and media venues.

Finally, I thank the Divine Creative Intelligence, however It may be named.