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SEALed with a Ring (35 page)

BOOK: SEALed with a Ring

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A book becomes real—moves from being scenes and characters rumbling around my brain to being an actual object that can be held in the hands—only with the help of a lot of people.

Readers are always interested in my research. I don't begin to have the military knowledge I would need to create my SEAL characters and their actions. Capt. Larry Bailey, USN Ret., former SEAL, helped me plot the Afghanistan chapter, explained motivations, and took me through the action step by step. Medical Capt. Hiram Patterson, Medical Service Corp, USNR, gen erously took his time to help me with specifics about Davy's injures—how they would happen and how they would be treated.

Sally A. Bulla, CDR, NC, USN-Ret., assured me a SEAL would lie through his teeth to cover up injuries. "For the most part, they can hide things pretty well— imagine lying to a doctor or nurse! Happens all the time with these guys. It's only when they know they are a danger to their comrades that they will tell someone that there's a problem. They always hope it's going to go away or get manageable so they can hide it." She also helped me with a time line for leaves.

When I encounter general military questions, an answer is always a S
end away at RTMS, a Yahoo! group of writer
s of military romance. What would I do without you guys?

All credit for military accuracy goes to the above. Any mistakes are mine.

I don't know whether it's a commentary on me or our society, but in plotting, I always encounter a legal ques tion. Angie Narron is my go-to lawyer, always ready with an answer.

Elizabeth Vaughan, MD, of Vaughan Integrative Medicine, suggested hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a possible treatment option. Gail Durgin, PhD, a neuro feedback therapist gave me insight into how it feels to have mild traumatic brain injury. It was she who told me, "Patients always say, 'I just want my life back!'"

JJ wouldn't exist without Elva Pugh. She's this larger-than-life beauty with black hair and green eyes, recognizable to everyone in her hometown, on equal terms with judges, mayors, and Walmart greeters, an
d
she owns a car dealership. With her in my corner, I had the factual basis to create a fictional heroine who owns a car dealership, plus the idea for the sunglasses. You should see me wearing the ones she gave me. I am hot.

Affectionate gratitude goes to Alyosha Anatoliy of Fred Astaire of North Greensboro—"The Happiest, Friendliest Spot in Town"—for some of the most enjoyable hours of my life, unending encouragement of my writing, and the background needed to create the dance scenes.

I am unfailingly touched by the generosity of perfect strangers who take their time to answer questions online. With the help of April, of
http://www.vintagevixen.com
, I found the 1967 wedding dress JJ borrows. And guess what? It was a Priscilla of Boston, originally sold in Goldsboro, NC. ( I love it when that kind of synchronic ity happens!)

In addition, I must thank my tireless critique partners, Jennifer Lohman and Yvonne Harris. Talk about unsung heroes. They read my manuscripts almost as many times as I do.

Eternal gratitude to my agent, Stephany Evans. Without her repeated acts of faith, her persistence and encouragement, you wouldn't be holding this book in your hands. Although I'm sure there were times she wanted to snatch me bald, the fact that she didn't is proof that she is as kind and forgiving as she is indefatigable.

Speaking of snatching me bald, my editor, Deb Werksman, also exhibited massive self-restraint and, as always, could put her finger on exactly what revisions were needed.

Finally, about hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or HBOT. The treatment is real. And yes, though the one JJ con tacts is fictional, a hyperbaric treatment center operated by former SEALs exists. Although there are individual case studies of people with TBI and stroke who have improved with HBOT, they cannot be considered clini cal proof. Clinical trials of HBOT and TBI are being conducted, but as of this writing, neither effectiveness nor ineffectiveness has been proved. Health insur ance is unlikely to pay for HBOT, and the Department of Defense's position is that it is ethical to withhold HBOT—meaning at present, it is not offered to veterans as a treatment option.

SEALed with a Ring (35 page)

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