The Quaker Café (45 page)

“Nathan, please call me Nathan.”

“Nathan,” she swallowed and then turned her head up to meet his eyes, “you keep looking for that light of yours. I’ll keep praying.”

Grandpa nodded. “And by the grace of God, a way will open.”

Author’s Note & Acknowledgements

This book has been a long time in coming and I thank those listed below for their patience, time, and help.  I called upon a number of people to answer many questions. Some I called numerous times and they have been gracious enough to provide thoughtful answers. I compiled pages of information that do not appear in the novel. Often a paragraph or two may be all that is written after lengthy discussions. In this way, however, I came to know my characters better and their lives and stories evolved.

First and foremost, a special thank you to Kathryn Lovatt who has reviewed my work numerous times and taught me valuable lessons during the past six years. Her steady guidance and insightful suggestions have been vital. She has her own list of writing publications, which I recommend. I am honored to have her not only as a mentor but also as a friend.

To Barbara and Bob
Gosney who have thoughtfully read this book and discussed with me relevant issues concerning the Religious Society of Friends (Conservative) in North Carolina
,
I am sincerely grateful. Any misconceptions of Quakers that might be conveyed merely illustrate my attempt to heighten the tension in a novel. Any other conclusions would be unjustified. I have nothing but the utmost respect for the Quakers I know and with whom I have been affiliated.

I am grateful to Dr.
Sreenivas Rao, an oncologist of great compassion and ability who provided care for my youngest sister at the end of a terminal illness. He is portrayed in name only as one of my characters, and is not connected with Duke University. He took hours to explain to me the exact protocol for the treatment of AML in 1992 and offered me the breakthrough I needed by explaining the possible need for platelet compatibility.  I used only a small portion of the wealth of information he gave me. Any mistakes are mine. He asked that I inform readers that new techniques in gathering bone marrow makes the process much easier than it was twenty years ago.

             
In addition I’d like to thank Bill Futrell, Gene Bennett, Louie Brown, Dick Dabbs, Michael Hewitt, Charles Slade, Jay Bruner, Carter Jones, Jamie Muldrow and Gwen Gosney Erickson for their contributions. I wish I could have used every word of insight they gave me – perhaps in a later book. For helpful long talks, proofing and continual inspiration, I am indebted to Pamela Sibley Slade, Brenda Hewitt, Anna Burgwyn, Martha Greenway, Mary Brent Cantarutti, the South Carolina Writers’ Workshop, especially the Camden group, and the on-line
Book Pregnant
authors who have encouraged me throughout.

             
Several individuals have taken time to edit my manuscript. Along the way I have made changes at their suggestions. Thank you to Pat Mulcahy (wow, that one was major), and Marti Healy. To my mother, Louise Bevan and my husband, Bill, I am forever grateful for all the proof-reading they’ve done and their infinite encouragement and support.

             
This book has made it this far because of the incredible faith, persistence and confidence of Catherine Drayton. The luckiest thing that happened to me in publishing was when she offered to be my agent. We’ve shared some ups and downs and she has stood by my side throughout. She is a woman of talent, integrity, and graciousness. If anyone ever wants to know why you need an agent, ask me. In addition to Catherine at InkWell Management, Charlie Olsen and Lisa Vanterpool  have been a tremendous help.  Thank you all.

(Photo by Debbie Gaul-Rusch)

Brenda Bevan Remmes
lives with her husband near Black River Swamp, South Carolina, in an old family home filled with the history of generations past. Her stories and articles have appeared in
Newsweek
, Southern publications and journals. She spent her career conducting rural health education programs for the Schools of Medicine at both The University of North Carolina and The University of South Carolina.
The Quaker Café
is her first novel; she is working on a sequel.