Carol Higgins Clark
Burned
The eighth book in the Regan Reilly series, 2005
Acknowledgments
Writing is solitary work, but publishing a book is not. I would like to say a special “aloha” to the people who helped me bring another Regan Reilly adventure to my readers.
Special thanks to Roz Lippel, who is my editor. From the time we went to lunch together to discuss the idea for this book to the final edits, her guidance and contributions were invaluable. A frequent visitor to Hawaii, she shared with me her keen knowledge of those wonderful islands!
Many thanks to Michael Korda for his comments and advice. Roz’s assistant, Laura Thielen, is always so helpful. Working with Associate Director of Copyediting Gypsy da Silva is a continuing pleasure. Gratitude to copy editor Rose Ann Ferrick and the proofreading team: Barbara Raynor, Steve Friedeman, and Joshua Cohen. Praise to art Director John Fulbrook and photographer Herman Estevez, who did a wonderful job evoking the Hawaiian spirit on the cover and in the picture. Kudos to my agent, Sam Pinkus. Applause to Lisl Cade, Carolyn Nurnburg, Nancy Haberman, and Tom Chiodo for promoting Regan Reilly!
Thanks to Hawaii residents Robbie Poznansky, who was so hospitable as he familiarized me with the Big Island, and Jason Gaspero, who did the same in Oahu.
Finally, thanks to my mother, who understands what it is to write a book, my family, friends, and readers. Aloha one and all!
In Pectore
Thursday, January 13
1
“T his is going to be the snowstorm of the century,” the action reporter, Brad Dayton, cried with a certain hysterical glee. Clad in bright yellow foul weather gear, he was standing on the side of the New Jersey Turnpike. Cars were inching by, sliding and spinning, as a gusty wind blew wet snow in every direction. The flakes seemed to target the reporter’s face and the lens of the television camera. The sky was thick with gray clouds, and the whole Northeast was hunkering down for an unexpected blizzard.