ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
As a second book, The Second Siege
posed a number of distinct challenges. Chief among these were
developing existing characters, introducing new ones, and
accelerating The Tapestry’s pace while increasing its scale. To
write and illustrate this book on a deadline while teaching has
been the greatest challenge of my life. Without the support of
family, friends, students, and colleagues, my sanity would have
undoubtedly taken an ugly turn. I have many people to thank: Sean
Carroll and Lisa Tarter, Christopher and Kirstin Casgar, Scott and
Loretta Dahnke, Lesley Dalton, Jacquie Duncan, Michael and
Catherine Farello, Heidi Hankins, Scott Kemper, Matt and Maya
Markovich, Michael Markovich, Marilyn Mawn, Ed and Betsy McDermott,
John and Jennifer Neff, Victoria Neff, Travis Nelson, Jill
Paganelli, Brian and Elizabeth Payne, Doug and Sarah Reed, Josh and
Ryn Richards, Gordon and Krista Rubenstein, Orestes Tarajano, Gavin
Turner, and all of my colleagues, my students, and their families
at Stuart Hall High School in San
Francisco.
Special mention and my deepest
gratitude go to my editor at Random House, Nicholas Eliopulos,
whose brilliant feedback and patient prodding were essential to
shaping up the second book and bringing it into being. That Nick
always manages to do so with grace and good humor is both
impressive and humbling.
My final thanks go to my mother, Terry Neff Zimmerman, whose tireless encouragement and timely feedback helped propel Max McDaniels and David Menlo across the Atlantic, deep within the Frankfurt Workshop, and, literally, out of this world. . . .