Jim Morgan and the Pirates of the Black Skull (44 page)

To Prof. Bill Campbell, Prof. David Bradley, Julie Gray, and Tamson Weston, you’ve all taught me more about writing that you may ever realize.

To Prof. Jean-Marie Rouhier-Willoughby, thank you for introducing me to the language of myth and storytelling. You may not know it, but your class on folklore was what truly sparked my love of story.

To Lora Lee, thank you for bringing the gift of your beautiful artwork to the world of Jim Morgan.

To Steve Martinez, Richard Smith, Sam Winokur, Eric “Che” Lopez, Bridget Fredstrom, Jenny Minniti, Nikki Katz, Cassandra Brown, and Ty King, thank you for being my brain trust and my readers. But most of all, thank you for being my friends.

To the Cottinghams, the Smiths, the Johnsons, Chad Perkins, the Phams, Ditter Kellen, and David Berger, thank you for your love and encouragement.

To my Mom, Heather, Mickey, Oma, Opa, and all my family, thank you for your faith in me. Thank you for telling me that I can do anything – and for believing it.

Finally, thank you to anyone and everyone who has taken the time to read my books. I hope the stories stay with you, and perhaps provide you with at least a smile when one is needed.