The dedication of my book was a tricky decision. I wonder if it's a tough decision for other writers to make? Originally, I was going to dedicate, Time For Bed, Baby Ted, to Darrell, Cole and Stella. They are my inspiration, support and love. But I also wanted to dedicate it to my critique group, Amanda Conran, Anne Beldon, Kathryn Otoshi and Daniel Weinstein, because they are my trusted, insightful friends with whom I have been my most vulnerable with for the past 8 years. And then there's my agent Caryn Wiseman who had faith, helped me tighten it up and then sold it to Holiday House? And then there's Mary Cash at Holiday House who loved it enough to take it to a meeting and pitch it to her staff. And last, (although she was actually first in the process) but absolutely, certainly not least, there's Andrea Brown, who read my manuscript right there on the spot when I asked to take a look at it at a Book Passages Children's Book conference. Andrea laughed and then invited me to come to Big Sur to work on it with her. I'm indebted to all of you and thank you more than these words can convey. But in the end, this first book had to be dedicated to my mom, Nelda Wegman, who dedicated her life to me and my sisters and brother. My mother became a single mother with four children, after my father passed away in the spring of 1960 in a car accident.

And so my dedication: TO MY MOM, WHO TUCKED FOUR OF US INTO BED EVERY NIGHT.

So how does one give thanks to all the others who inspired, critiqued, had faith, pitched to their staff and laughed? Write another book.