King David: The Real Life of the Man Who Ruled Israel (Ballantine Reader's Circle) (52 page)

Acknowledgments

 

K
ing David
could not have been written without the love, companionship, wisdom, high spirits, and good humor of my wife, Ann Benjamin Kirsch, and our children, Adam Benjamin Kirsch and Jennifer Rachel Kirsch. Each is a passionate reader and a gifted writer, and each knows exactly how to encourage a fellow writer at his work.

Dennis Mitchell, my law partner and dear friend, created and guarded the space within our practice where I have been able to write books and book reviews since the first day we hung out a shingle together.

Vera Tobin and Andrew Solomon ably assisted in the research for
King David
, thus extending my reach into the library stacks at the University of California at Berkeley and Columbia University. And I made good use of the research completed by my son, Adam, for my earlier books,
The Harlot by the Side of the Road
and
Moses, A Life
.

At the offices of Kirsch & Mitchell in Los Angeles, each work
day is brightened—and my work load is lightened—by Judy Woo and Angie Yoon, my valued colleagues and cherished friends.

Laurie Fox at the Linda Chester Literary Agency is not only my agent but also a dear friend and a fellow writer of distinction, a muse and a guardian angel.

The incomparable Linda Chester and all of her colleagues at the Linda Chester Literary Agency have long sustained me and my work with the kind of attention, energy, and ambition that every author seeks (but does not always find) in a literary agent.

Gina Centrello and Joanne Wyckoff at The Ballantine Publishing Group in New York have generously shared their expertise and vision in the writing and publishing of
King David
.

Virginia Faber and Janet Fletcher contributed their generous and discerning editorial attentions to all three of my books about the Bible, including
King David
.

Whether we find ourselves together at some far-flung book fair or at home at the holidays, lighting candles and singing songs, I have cherished the experience of knowing and working with Marie Coolman, Heather Smith, and Robin Benway at the West Coast publicity office of Ballantine.

Among the many booksellers across the United States who have welcomed me to their stores and encouraged me in my work, I owe a special debt of gratitude to Doug Dutton, Diane Leslie, Lise Friedman, and Ed Conklin at Dutton's in Brentwood; Stan Hynds and Linda Urban at Vroman's in Pasadena; Stan Madson and Jeanne D'Arcy at the Bodhi Tree in West Hollywood; Peggy Jackson at Borders in Montclair; and Michael Graziano at Borders in Pasadena.

Rabbi Michael Gotlieb at Kehillat Maarav in Los Angeles has opened his heart and shared his wisdom with my whole family.

Bernadette Shih is a gifted writer whose friendship and colleagueship are a source of inspiration and delight.

Finally, I warmly and gratefully acknowledge the following generous people, each of whom has supported and encouraged me in my work in many different ways:

At the
Los Angeles Times
, M. J. Smith and Elena Nelson Howe in
the Southern California Living section, and Steve Wasserman, Tom Curwen, Nick Owchar, Cara Mia di Massa, Susan Salter Reynolds, and Ethel Alexander in the Book Review.

Also at the
Los Angeles Times
, Larry Stammer and Mary Rourke.

At KPCC-FM in Pasadena, Larry Mantle, Ilsa Setziol, Jackie Oclaray, Linda Othenin-Girard, Kitty Felde, Christal Smith, and Aimee Machado.

At the Publishers Marketing Association, Jan Nathan and Terry Nathan.

At the
Jewish Journal
, Gene Lichtenstein and Rob Eshman.

Tony Cohan at Acrobat Books, publisher of my books on publishing law.

At PEN Center USA West, Sherrill Britton, Larry Siems, and Eric Lax.

My mother and stepfather, Dvora and Elmer Heller.

Clare Ferraro, Liz Williams, and Rachel Tarlow Gul, who have long nurtured and inspired me in my writing.

Connie Martinson, whose broadcasts have shed light on so many books and authors.

Carolyn See, Jack Miles, Karen Armstrong, Harlan Ellison, Judith Orloff, and Janet Baker.

The Rev. Peter Gomes, Rabbi Harold Schulweis, Rabbi Isaiah Zeldin, Rabbi Allen Freehling, Rabbi Will Kramer, and Pastor Mitch Henson.

Raye Birk and Candace Barrett Birk, Len and Pat Solomon, Chuck Taylor and Suzye Ogawa, Sheldon Kadish and Mary Ann Rosenfeld, Scott Baker, Ellen Newman, Jacob Gabay, Inge-Lise DeWolfe, Fred Huffman, Jill Johnson Keeney, and Rae Lewis.