Fortunately for me, manuscripts still get plucked from slush piles by dedicated agents and acquired by great editors. Leverage was one such manuscript. To all aspiring writers out there I offer this small bit of advice: Be tenacious! Never give up! Keep the faith! This book’s journey began with the wonderful Catherine Drayton of InkWell Management taking a chance on my manuscript. It continued with that great editor I referenced, Julie Strauss-Gabel, acquiring and further shaping the story. Along the way, Leverage received wonderful support from Patricia Burke at InkWell Management and a very real vote of confidence from two fine gentlemen, Stanley Jaffe and Dan Rissner. A big “Thanks” goes to the hardworking staff at Penguin/Dutton for helping make Leverage even better than I thought possible. Everyone else that I mention here has either supported, inspired, encouraged, or influenced me while I pursued the hard work of writing to get published: Mom & Dad Cohen (this goes without saying, but I’m saying it anyway), Karen Gayle (ditto), Barbara Cohen, Mohammed Naseehu Ali, Charise Hayman, Melannie Gayle, Denise Pinkley, Nathan Trice, the Gayle family, the Colonnese family, the Burch family, David Brind, Kent Frankstone, Michael Jones, Suzanne Lampl, Gary Laurie, Ben Speaker, and Stephen (Mr.) Schwandt.