Acknowledgments
The Betareader
For Mary Stark
There was a time
that I thought I didn't need a betareader. In fact, at the start of my fanfic
writing career, I didn't know what it was! But, as with all learning curves, I
learned soon enough. When the opportunity came along to ask someone to edit
"Strangers when we meet", the first and only person I asked, was the
one person who said yes. If someone asked me how I found this person, I'd say it
was through the writing of this behemoth. One day I asked her for help and one
day, she replied, "certainly". I had no idea then of her real worth
and trusted her implicitly with my creation. What a blessing then that I
commissioned for this work such an amazing woman who picked out errors, offered
alternatives, challenged my 'wordiness', loved the project as much as I loved
it, and always exuded the world's greatest patience. I asked that she challenge
me, and she did, many times! I owe Mary Stark so much, it is difficult to
quantify my gratitude, except to say that I am eternally grateful that she did
share and experience with me this labour of love. I am not certain whether this
story will be the greatest story I
have told so far, but I can assure you, it has been edited by the greatest
betareader I have had the honor of working with. I am hoping to continue our
working association with my next big project. I cannot thank her enough for her
perseverance even when she had the trials of real life to contend with.
This is not by any
means a treatise on the nature and value of betareaders for I believe those
topics have been done over and over on boards, lists, newsgroups.
It is just a simple, most heartfelt "Thank you, Mary."
The Mentors
Sheila
Williams
In a faraway land
there lives a lady who shares my last name. I 'met' her while I was writing
"And gather dreams that never fade away", and since the writing of a
certain chapter of "Strangers when we meet" in which I asked readers
to complete a very personal questionnaire, I had the privelege of getting to
know her better and we became firm friends. On her I showered all my
frustrations, my despair, my joy, my unquenchable drive to write and write, the
agony of powerlessness when I couldn't find a connection back to my story. Yes,
there were times I felt run off my feet, too tired to think, too pressured to
post a chapter or two, too battered by the force of some of the scenes I had to
write, and she'd be there to offer the calm in a sea of storms. It was Sheila
who 'introduced' me to the composer Gabriel Fauré and I fell in love with his
"Requiem".
For being there, every step of the way: thank you, Sheila.
Dee
Williams
Husband, friend, mentor. The one who listens.
vanhunks
April 2003