To my wife, Desiree, your contribution to this erotic, murder mystery is more than I can or should put into writing. Thank you, girl, for so much, well, inspiration…enough said.
To my family, Col. Frank and Marilyn Underwood; Frank Jr.; Marlo; Jackson; Mellisa; my little miracles, Paris, Brielle, Blake; my cousin Lynne Andrews, who keeps things flowing; all of my nieces, nephews, and friends, too many to name, thank you for always encouraging me to dream. By consistently grabbing life by the horns and embracing the joys of the world around us, every one of you stimulate and motivate me daily.
Ron West, my manager, thank you for never saying, “you can’t.” We started as such, years ago, and we remain on the same page today.
Lydia Wills, your insight and expertise are absolutely invaluable and I am honored to have you on the team. In addition, you simply redefine the word “cool.”
To everyone at The Paradigm Talent Agency, many thanks for taking the reigns and for taking the ride with me on my many endeavors.
Mark J. Wetzstein; Eric Suddleson; Patti Felker and the gang at Nelson, Felker, Toczek and Davis: thank you for always going the distance for me.
Lee Wallman, what can I say, “you’re priceless.” Thank you for always being ready to roll and for going down the path with me, even when it may lead to White Castle.
Malaika Adero, I cannot thank you enough for shepherding, now, our second book together. You are an incredible editor to work with and I hope to continue this partnership for many years to come.
Judith Curr, heartfelt thanks to you for, once again, believing in my vision and for seeing the extraordinary potential in such a novel as this. Every author should be blessed with as much support and encouragement from his publisher as you have given us.
And to the team and staff at Atria Books at Simon & Schuster, God bless you and thank you for all of your hard work onCasanegra: A Tennyson Hardwick Story.
We’ve only just begun!
—Blair Underwood
Thanks, first, to our readers, for taking a chance on something new. We are so excited to offer our first novel-length collaboration, a process that is almost worthy of a book unto itself. WritingCasanegra lived up to all of the clichés about peak moments: It was sometimes frustrating, always challenging, and never boring. In the end, it not only brought us closer together as a married couple, it also helped us become better writers. What a blessing!
Thanks to Blair Underwood, a friend who called one day back when we were living in Longview, Washington, and first planted the seed of what would later become this collaboration. Aside from his talents as an actor and producer, Blair is one of those few rare souls who is exactly what he seems to be at first glance: gracious, smart, and kind. It has been a joy working with you, Blair.
At Atria Books, thanks to Malaika Adero, for believing so earnestly in both the potential and the vision ofCasanegra. Also, thanks to Judith Curr and Krishan Trotman.
Thanks to our literary agents, John Hawkins and Moses Cardona of John Hawkins & Associates, and Eleanor Wood of Spectrum Literary Agency. Thanks, too, to our film agents, Michael Prevett of the Gotham Group, and Jonathan Westover of the Gage Group. And many thanks to our attorney, Richard Solomon.
For advice and assistance, thanks to Darryl Miller, reader and editor extraordinaire. Thanks also to L. A. Banks, for those lovely conversations in Antigua. For his insights into L.A.P.D., thanks to retired Lieutenant George Johnson for his time and memories. Readers who are curious about the purported L.A.P.D. connection to the murders of rappers Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls should readLAbyrinth by Randall Sullivan.
Many thanks to Guru Cliff Stewart for his insights into the bodyguard profession, as well as his masterful knowledge of an incredible range of martial arts disciplines. We would also like to thank M.O., J.C., H.R., and the others who gave us a working understanding of sex workers: the call girl/male escort professions. We omit their names not from lack of appreciation, but from a desire to protect their privacy.
Eternal love and gratitude to Tananarive’s parents, John Due and Patricia Stephens Due.
Thanks most of all to Jason and Nicki, for tolerating a household headed by two writers.
—Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes
Casanegra Page 37