To my hero husband, Milton, who is my collaborator in the deepest sense of the word---he's believed in me, supported me, and cheered me on in my calling to inspirational writing.

Author's Note:

In 1859, there were many black dialects in the South, including Geechee, Gullah, combinations of various kinds, even Elizabethan-sounding ones. I considered using Gullah, which is the authentic Black dialect in Charleston, South Carolina, but the dialogue would be hard to read. In an effort to maintain the flavor of the setting and time, I've sprinkled in off-grammar vernaclular, the most easily-read form of dialect.