Len Rudnick, my uncle, for ushering me to and around Phoenix like no other media escort could. Between the tours for The 7th Victim, Crush, and Velocity, we’ve amassed some great memories. I’ll always cherish the time we spent together. Melodie Hilton, director of marketing and public relations, Napa Valley Wine Train, for making the Wine Train available to us for filming, and for arranging our Wine Train book signing event. K. R. Rombauer for his hospitality and for allowing us to film in Rhombauer’s extensive wine cave.
Gretchen Pahia, Larry Comacho, Bill Thompson; Tom Hedtke, Beth O’Connor, Vicky Lorini; Colleen Holcombe; Douglas Thompson; Russell Ilg; John Hutchinson, Virginia Lenneville; Jean Coggan, Kristine Williams; Alex Telander; Jeff Bobby; Donna Powers, Pamela Ervin; Covahgin Van Dyk; J. Paul Deason, Betsy Ostrow; Marlee Soulard; Chris Acevedo (and Sophie), Daniel Piel; Maryelizabeth Hart, Terry Louchheim Gilman, Patrick Heffernan, Lori Burns, Linda Tonnesen; Barbara Peters, Lorri Amsden, Patrick Millikin; Bobby McCue, Linda Brown, Pam Woods, Kirk Pasich; J. B. Dickey, Fran Fuller; Joan Hansen; April Lilley, Christine Hilferty; Marc Hernandez and Ronny Peskin; Kara Schneider, Dena Roy, Valerie Burnside; Greg Hill; Lisa Haynes; Teresa McClatchy; Laura Sylvia, Marisa Ferche; Jessie Portlock; Joe Wilder; Mandi Holstrom; Tracy Puhl; Marsha Toy Engstrom and her “Hoodies”; Michael Troyan; Deborah Lee; Keith Kilby, John Keese, Nathan Spradlin; Marc Stiles; Patrick Malloy.
Marvin Kamras; John Hartman; Andrea Ragan; Russell and Marion Weis; Corey Jacobson; Mikel London, Andrew Gulli; Lindsay Preston, Brendan Twardy, Geof Pelaia, Stephen Mlinarcik, Virginia Matri, and the College of Art and Design in Cleveland, Ohio.
To my readers . . . As always, thanks for your support, for spreading the word about Alan Jacobson’s novels to friends, family members, neighbors, colleagues, book clubs, and bloggers. I promise to always try my best to entertain you with unique characters and interesting stories. Come out and see me sometime at one of my signings, or check out my Web site and Facebook fan page. I’m here for you.
As always, I conducted exhaustive research in an attempt to ensure accuracy. If I’ve blown some fact, it’s my responsibility, not that of the individuals mentioned above. Likewise, if I’ve accidentally omitted someone, please forgive me (and let me know, so I can correct it).
Due to its sensitive nature, certain aspects of SWAT procedure may or may not have been altered to protect those in the field. Likewise, certain DEA operational procedures and capabilities or locations may have been modified to protect those who are risking their lives to keep us safe. However, all other information, including that regarding drug-related statistics, methods of transportation and subterfuge used by the cartels, the pervasiveness of illicit drugs, and other such information included in Velocity are accurate to my knowledge at the time of this writing.
In a few instances of hotel/casino layout, I’ve taken some minor literary license for both security and dramatic reasons.
About Margot, Roxxann Dixon’s white standard poodle . . . My wife and I are proud owners of two standards, one of which came from a local rescue organization and one from a breeder in North Carolina. The latter’s mother, Margot, recently passed away unexpectedly. She was not just a champion on the show circuit, but a special dog with tremendous intellect and personality, which she passed on to our big guy. Margot has been, and will be, missed. Dixon’s fictitious poodle is named in the real Margot’s honor.
Copyright © 2010 by Alan Jacobson