Iditarod Nights (19 page)

The End

Acknowledgments

My goal was to write about a woman and a man
who meet under extreme circumstances and overcome personal trauma
to find love. Claire and Dillon are fictional characters; The
Iditarod Trail Sled Dog race is an annual event that began in 1973.
I could not have written this book without the invaluable
information provided by the
Iditarod Insider
, musher Aliy
Zirkle and her "Aliy Cam," along with numerous videos by other
mushers, volunteers and race fans, and a bounty of great articles
and books published on the subject. There is so much more to the
sport than what I have covered in these pages. Any discrepancies or
errors are solely my own.

Contrary to common belief, Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder is not just a military, combat-related trauma.
Anyone who is exposed to a terrifying incident that puts them in
physical danger, or is witness to a horrific event, is at risk of
developing PTSD: firefighters, rescue workers, accident survivors,
assault victims, people caught in natural or human-caused
disasters, adults and children alike. Law enforcement officers deal
with the violent side of life daily, sometimes with devastating
consequences. My research taught me a new respect for the men and
women who wear the badge and respond when called. I urge my readers
to learn more about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, its symptoms
and treatments.

Deepest thanks to the editors and readers who
helped me make this a better story: Kimberly A. Cook, Claudia
DeGailler, Bettina Spencer, and my patient husband, Jack Hiday. My
appreciation is boundless. I love you!

About the Author

Award-winning author
Cindy Hiday
teaches the Professional Novel & Memoir Writers Workshop
program at Mt. Hood Community College. She is a member of
Willamette Writers and lives in Oregon with her husband and
four-legged friends. Her must-haves are coffee, chocolate, books,
and tomatoes warm off the vine.