Deepest appreciation to the following, without whom you’d be holding some other book in your hands right now: Barbara Braun, John F. Baker, Matthew Miller, Deborah Meghnagi, Katherine Maistros, Poppy Z. Brite, and The City of New Orleans.
Additional alphabetical gratitude to: Tani Bayer, Raymond Buckland, Jenny Keith Ciattei, Bryan Civello, Douglas Clegg, Crispin the Coffee Guy at the old Rue De La Course in the Quarter, Mark Doten, Shari Fisch, Vicky Gashe, GiO the Burlesque Queen of New Orleans & Dr. Bob, Mambo Sallie Ann Glassman, Habitat for Humanity, Jeff “Almost Slim” Hannusch, Skip Henderson, The Ghost of Edna Hicks, Homeless Bill, Khaled Hosseini, Mr. Ike and His Harmonica That Cost More Than a Car, Robert Jaugstetter, Kaldi’s Coffeehousemuseum (RIP), Jack Kelleher, Little Freddie King, The Kowalkowski Family, Levees.Org, Diane Maistros, the memory of George Maistros, Michael Maistros, Roger Mehl, Keely Merritt, Peter “Sneaky Pete” Orr, Diana Price, Zak Rahman & Schiro’s Café, Coco Robicheaux, Gary “The Gent” Rouzan, Brett Savory, The Very Reverend Jim Smith & His Damn Frontier, T-Bone “Whiskey Boy” Stone, Paul G. Tremblay, Mike West’s 9 Ward Hillbilly Band and everyone who came back to New Orleans after the storm to swing a hammer in trembling fists.
Extra special thanks and love to my little tribe: Elly, Amberle & Booker.