Unraveled By The Rebel (45 page)

However, early physicians, such as Oliver Wendell Holmes, wrote essays that predated the germ theory later established by Joseph Lister. In 1843 Holmes believed that Puerperal fever in childbirth was spread from doctor to patient; he advocated washing hands and purifying instruments.

Could other physicians have considered this, thirty-three years sooner? It’s quite possible—and I’d like to believe that my Scottish doctor would have been an early believer.

T
here are some manuscripts that are more challenging to write than others. It takes a special editor with a good eye to see the forest for the trees. With special thanks to Charlotte Herscher for helping me reshape this book and for being so supportive throughout the process.

Thanks also to my agent, Helen Breitwieser, for being a listening ear and for helping me on this journey.

Most of all, thanks to Pat Willingham for always carrying bookmarks in her purse and telling perfect strangers that I write romance.

Mom, you’re amazing.

Rita
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Award Finalist Michelle Willingham has published over twenty books and novellas. Currently, she lives in southeastern Virginia with her husband and children and is working on more historical romance novels. When she’s not writing, Michelle enjoys baking, playing the piano, and avoiding exercise at all costs.

Visit her website at
www.michellewillingham.com
or interact with her on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/michellewillinghamfans
.