Guitar Notes (28 page)

My thanks, first and foremost, go to my editor Regina Griffin for believing in my characters even before they were fully formed. For helpful comments on early drafts, thanks to Karen Giacopuzzi, Lucia Lostumbo, Molly, Michael, and Cissie Williams, my nephew Brian, and my family Max, Simon, and Ivan. Two great books and one awesome CD inspired me along the way:
Zen Guitar
(Simon & Schuster, 1997) by Philip Toshio Sudo;
From Where You Dream: The Process of Writing Fiction
(Grove Press, 2005) by Robert Olen Butler and Janet Burroway; and
Art of Motion
(CandyRat Records, 2005) by Andy McKee. I am grateful to musicians Dede Wyland, Suzanne Brindamour, and Mark Sylvester for feedback on the songs in the book and to Cletus Kennelly at the Urban Garden Recording Studio for making the recording process a joy. A shout-out to Crazy Dave for allowing Lyla to buy her Luna guitar at House of Musical Traditions and my admiration to Yvonne at Luna Guitars for creating such inspiring instruments. Thanks also to Jillian Van Ells, who encouraged me to test-drive the songs, and to the girls at Holton-Arms School and the boys at Landon for being such enthusiastic audiences. Finally, a special thanks to Bill Williams for jumping in to collaborate on Tripp and Lyla’s music with such a fun and fearless attitude. Lucky, lucky me.