Hammer of Angels: A Novel of Shadowstorm (30 page)

When I write the factual material for my books, I bring an enthusiast's foundation in world history, but for everything else I start from square one. Filling in my yawning abysses of ignorance requires a lot of research and a great deal of help from many patient, intelligent people. As with
Blades of Winter
, I never would have finished
Hammer of Angels
without the priceless contributions of these supportive friends.

My parents, George and Carol, set me up for all this by sending me to RISD and supporting me in my pursuit of a creative career. My sister, Mary Rose, generously introduced me to the basics of publishing and helped me avoid many newcomer's mistakes. My wife, Natalie, has enthusiastically read draft after draft and offered fantastic suggestions.

In the professional sphere, the final version of this book owes much to my incredible editor, Anne Groell, who coaxed better material out of me with every comment and question. That I'm working with her at all is entirely due to the tireless efforts of my literary agent, Tris Coburn.

I interrogated many friends about everything from science to psychology and ballistics to bombers. Please forgive me if I leave anyone out:

George S. Almasi, Andy MacInnis, Steven Sharp, Arthur V. Milano, Kirsten Schwaller-Sigrist, Diane O'Brien, Beth Kelley, Scott D. Packard, Len Freiberg III, Maureen Robinson, Krista Snyder, Lori Freiberg-Rapp, Paul Muller, Jamin Naghmouchi, Claudia Wilcox-Powers, Gretchen Schwaller-Sharp, Peter Sigrist, Cathy Davis-Hayes, David Hayes, Carol DuBois, Emily Clark, and Lisa Cullity-Drennan.

A special thanks to all the people who have picked up
Blades of Winter
. Their positive response has been everything I could have hoped for. I especially thank you, friendly reader, for joining me as I tell my stories. I invite you to http://www.facebook.com/GTAlmasi to follow my late-night writer's ravings.