I also want to thank the many fellow writers who agreed to read an early draft of this book, indulging my friendship, not to mention my insecurity about a book I knew was a departure from my previous work. Many thanks to Jodie Nida, John Wooley, K. D. Wentworth, James Vance, and my wife, Kirsten. The worst of it is, the only compensation they received was having characters in the book named after them. But at least none of their namesakes were tortured by poisonous leeches.
Very special thanks to my agent, Dan Strone, who believed in this book from the start, and my long-standing friend and editor, Joe Blades, who supported this effort just as he has everything else I’ve tried for the past fifteen years. No writer could possibly be more fortunate than I’ve been.
I invite readers to send me their thoughts via email at WB@williambernhardt.com. You can also visit my website at www.williambernhardt.com.
As the academician in the book says, Edgar Allen Poe’s contributions to American literature are enormous, and if you haven’t read any of his work, this might be a good time to start. Just don’t take it too seriously, okay?
– WILLIAM BERNHARDT
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
WILLIAM BERNHARDT is the author of many novels, including Primary Justice, Murder One, Criminal Intent, Death Row, and Hate Crime. He has twice won the Oklahoma Book Award for Best Fiction, and in 2000 he was presented with the H. Louise Cobb Distinguised Author Award “in recognition of an outstanding body of work in which we understand ourselves and American society at large.” A former trial attorney, Bernhardt has received several awards for public service. He lives in Tulsa with his wife, Kirsten, and their children, Harry, Alice, and Ralph. Readers can e-mail him at WB@williambernhardt.com or visit his website at www.williambernhardt.com.
