Seidel, Kathleen Gilles (45 page)

Susannah also sent me some clippings about the future Mr. Jill Casler's testimony in front of the state legislature about college athletes. It sounds like you have a clear-sighted, level-headed chap on your hands... not that we would have expected anything less of you.

Susannah is, of course, incapable of operating a Xerox machine—God only knows why she is still doing things like that herself—so the copies were lousy, but amidst the blur, it sure does look like you've gotten yourself engaged to Phillip Wayland. So you're going to trust your heart to a cavalry man!

All love always,

Payne

After earning a Ph.D. in English from Johns Hopkins, Kathleen Gilles Seidel decided that rather than trying to write a novel that would change people's lives, she would instead write one that would change their afternoons. With the publication of MORE THAN YOU DREAMED, her eighth novel, she has grown ambitious. She hopes to brighten someone's whole day.

Kathy is from Kansas. She and her husband have two young daughters (MORE THAN YOU DREAMED was written in front of the swing set). They live in Virginia although, alas, not in the part of Virginia where this book is set.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Do male authors thank their babysitters? I must. Christi Morris was here when I was breaking sod; Elizabeth Mitchell rode in for a gallant last-minute rescue. Manning the fort in between were Meagan Vilsack, Suzanne Thulin, Davis Roberts, Katie Kirkman, and Lacey Gandy. The hospitality of Laura Brookhiser, the little girl next door, provided countless hours of unexpected work time.

After eight books, you run out of things you know about and have to write about what your friends know about. Fortunately, I am blessed with many knowledgeable friends. If I have not completely disgraced myself writing about film, it is a tribute to Lawrence and Kathleen Karr who were generous indeed. Casey Stuart read my Civil War material, and Bill and Gerry Ely escorted me around Winchester. Anne Stuart nursed me through many odd literary adventures. Catherine Healy introduced me to her friends who proved much too fascinating to write about... at least in this book. Alison Barschdorf, while not knowing how long film will survive in a freezer or when American G.I.s were first captured by Germans, always knew who would know.

Other friends provided insight into the animal kingdom: Barry Levine knew about chickens, Pamela Regis knew about horses, and Faye Zucker knew about group therapy.