A Dedication

Ms. Burns was an educator, an avid reader and an overall sharp and classy woman. However, after struggling with an abundance of health issues, she had lost her fervor for life. As told to me by one of the most ardent fans of my novel, Ms. Burns no longer had an interest in doing anything, much less reading.

Nonetheless, her book club member from long ago (and proponent of my book) decided to purchase a copy of Imbroglio for her in hopes that she might be inspired. The book sat beside her bed for the longest, and she would look at it, pick it up, then put it down, Ms. Burns’ daughter would report. Finally, she started reading it. And she wanted to have a conversation about it. The conversation turned into several. My fan said every time she called to check on Ms. Burns they had to talk about Imbroglio, and even today when we spoke, she declared she had never talked about one book so much with anyone in her lifetime.

I never thought a fictional story could have so much impact. I was informed Ms. Burns had a renewed vigor, announcing she was “in love with love,” and in one of the last conversations the two of them had she expressed wanting to know, “Who was at the door?” My fan, who attended a recent excerpt reading of my sequel, said she almost told her and now she wishes she had.

Ms. Burns passed away three days ago. As I’m endeavoring to complete the sequel, I can’t express how sad this news is to me on a multitude of levels. Time waits for no one. I never met her, but I wish I had. Now I have even greater impetus to get my next work completed and it will be dedicated to Ms. Burns. My prayers go out to her family.