It was among the First Street group of fellow authors that I met Jane Lebak and delved into the world of Gothic Romance—okay, maybe a little bit of Horror (but it shouldn’t keep you up at night!)—and wrote Hunger. I hadn’t realized collaboration could be such fun!
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In my earliest days as writer, another author, Barbara Goss, also reached out to me on Facebook and has guided me through some of the arcana of (shudder) publicity. You see, we “independent” authors are responsible for the entire process from writing, to editing, to proofreading, to publishing, and then to publicizing! That’s one of the reasons for the “review” plea above, and why we are all so grateful when you share books you like with others. And also why I am so thankful to Barbara that I not only named my heroine after her but have dedicated this volume to her in thanks.
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Cheryl Wright, when she invited me to write for her Christmas Rescue series (set in the late 1800s in the west), became another major mentor. I also met Margaret Tanner and Angela Lain through this group, and they joined Cheryl in guiding me through the joys and pitfalls of pre-ordering, keeping me on track in numerous ways, and answering my myriad questions.
Cheryl also introduced me to Virginia McKevitt of Black Widow Books who does all of Cheryl’s covers, and has now done most of mine. Virginia has an uncanny knack for finding exactly the right model to represent the heroine in each book. The sadness on Barbara’s face embodies her past.
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The incredibly talented people mentioned above, and many others, have provided an amazing amount of backing, ideas, and assistance for a still neophyte writer, helping out with all manner of tricks of the trade. This amazing camaraderie, I have come to find, is not unusual—authors seem to just be warm, creative, and generous folks. Each of you has my undying gratitude.
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Additionally, my friends and family, especially my husband, have continued to abet my desire to pour my thoughts out on paper and its modern substitutes. They have to put up with my everyday whims and requests, so deserve special recognition for their patience and love.
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But most of all, you, the reader, make it worthwhile to share my thoughts and dreams as expressed by the characters who whisper in my ear. Thank you.
Elissa Strati
June 2020
AUTHOR’S HISTORICAL NOTE
While generally similar to existing institutions, the orphanages and the religious orders running them are from my imagination. An orphanage is only as good as the people running it, and I chose to make mine a model rather than something out of Dickens.
Life is hard enough and I think I gave my characters enough obstacles to deal with.
Mail Order Barbara (Widows, Brides, and Secret Babies Book 14) Page 9
