by Wally Duff
The building the Hamlin Park Irregulars were in would be blown into tiny fragments.
~
Acknowledgements
As I read the acknowledgements I wrote for my first two books, I realized I had forgotten the two people who made these books possible: my parents, Loretta and Clyde Duff. Sadly, they weren’t around when I began writing, and they never read anything I wrote about Tina and the Hamlin Park Irregulars. But I know they would appreciate this belated shout-out.
My core production crew has pretty much remained the same. Nancy Cohen is much more than my editor, and I thank her for that. She “gets” Tina and the rest of the Hamlin Park Irregulars, which makes my writing easier. Ana Magno has created each book cover, and I don’t know what I would do without her. Interestingly, I’ve never met either of them, which is the wonder of the Internet.
There are two new members. Joy Larsen is the voice for the audible production of boom-Boom! and déjà-BOOM!. Bada-BOOM! is up next but probably won’t be ready until late spring.
Abby Anderson is now handling Facebook for the Hamlin Park Irregulars. Check it out: facebook.com/hamlinparkirregulars.
I have never before thanked my office staff, past and present, in my books. Some of them were introduced in the first book, and others will appear in the future. They are all terrific and make it a joy for me to come to work and pick noses (when I’m not writing).
I owe my thanks to the two people who read the almost-final draft.
My son, James E. Duff. Jimmy, hearing you tell me that you didn’t see the ending coming made writing this all worthwhile. I am thrilled that I finally “got you!”
The second person read the book before Jimmy, and her suggestions were the reason I was able to befuddle him. Tina, thanks for being “Tina” in the stories, and for critically reading and editing the content. It’s a much better book because of your suggestions.
Thanks to the rest of my family: Mindy Wales Duff and Bentley; Tina Taylor, Jeff (Carter), Kerry, Macy, Nick, and Ruby; James E. Duff and Julia Morrison; Brittany Simon Haynie, Luke, Jetter, and Dexter. And to the reason I’m late coming home: Mo, who is Denny Crane to my Alan Shore.
The next book in the series, brainy-BOOM!, brings back Diane Warren. She is much too interesting to drop. And if Diane is back, so too is the medical content of the story.
And Macy, you finally made it! You won’t have much of a speaking part, since in the book you are only seven months old, but in the future, I promise you will have your chance to talk.
What is brainy-BOOM! about?
If you have no symptoms but discover you have Alzheimer’s Disease, what would you do? What would any of us do?
As always, if you want to discuss this, or anything else about the books, please contact me at [email protected], or on my website: wallyduff.com or hamlinparkirregulars.com.
