acknowledgments
As is always the case, I had a lot of help writing this book. I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to:
Kara and Billy and Noah, for pretty much everything; my mother and father, whom I think of and miss every day; John, Rita, Mary, and Nancy, siblings and guardian angels; and my old friends from the Wood, blood brothers all, especially The Hanson Road Boys.
The Tiptons, for too many kindnesses to list on this page.
Annie Keele, Natasha Slutzky, Kacey Newman, Madeline Anderson, and Cassidy Ward, for lending their talent and trust.
Brian Anderson, Steve Sines, Doug Sharretts, and Melvin Futrell, for taking time out of their busy days to play make-believe.
Bev Vincent, Billy Chizmar (again), Robert Mingee, and Jeff Martin, for early reads and generous advice.
Brandon Lescure and Everett Glovier of Sympatico Media, for photographic excellence and acting mediocrity.
Gail Cross of Desert Isle Design for technical and design assistance.
Several unnamed members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Maryland State Police, and the Harford County Sheriff’s Department, for invaluable technical advice. You know who you are.
Dave Wehage, Deborah Lynn, Alex Baliko, and Matt and Nate Slutzky, for letting me pillage their personal photo albums.
Alex McVey, for the excellent police sketch.
The Keele family, for helping out with my crazy idea and putting up with their strange—yet charming—next-door neighbor.
Jimmy Cavanaugh, for being there from the very beginning.
James Renner, for fighting the good fight and the wonderful Foreword.
Stephen King, for friendship and advice.
Danielle Marie and Jason Myers, for friendship, tireless support, and encouragement.
The Chasing the Boogeyman “Street Team” for believing in this author and this project, and all their hard work.
Brian Freeman, Mindy Jarusek, and Dan Hocker, for watching over the store and keeping me in line. Not an easy gig.
Ryan Lewis, for being one of the good guys and navigating the never-ending maze that is La-La Land (as my father always called it).
Kristin Nelson, for working so hard on my behalf and always doing it with a smile in her voice. I’m not sure how she does it, but I’m immensely grateful.
Ed Schlesinger, for helping to shape Chasing the Boogeyman into a book I’m very proud of, and for doing it with such kindness and generosity.
And last but certainly not least, all the fine people of Edgewood, then and now, for giving me a place I can always call “home.”
More from the Author
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Gwendy's Button Box
about the author
RICHARD CHIZMAR is the coauthor (with Stephen King) of the New York Times bestselling novella Gwendy’s Button Box. Recent books include The Girl on the Porch; The Long Way Home, his fourth short story collection; and Widow’s Point, a chilling tale about a haunted lighthouse cowritten with his son Billy Chizmar, which was recently made into a feature film. His short fiction has appeared in dozens of publications, including Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine and The Year’s 25 Finest Crime and Mystery Stories. He has won two World Fantasy awards, four International Horror Guild awards, and the HWA’s Board of Trustees award. Chizmar’s work has been translated into more than fifteen languages throughout the world, and he has appeared at numerous conferences as a writing instructor, speaker, panelist, and guest of honor. Follow him on Twitter @RichardChizmar, or visit his website at RichardChizmar.com.
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2021 by Richard Chizmar
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First Gallery Books hardcover edition August 2021
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Interior design by Davina Mock-Maniscalco
Jacket design by Anna Dorfman
Jacket photographs by Yoruba/iStockphoto (street scene); Eric Vega/E+/Getty Images (house); Asier Romero Carballo/Depositphotos (sneaker); Serge Vuillermoz/Eyeem/Getty Images (hopscotch board)
Author photograph by Carly Albright
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.
ISBN 978-1-9821-7516-0
ISBN 978-1-9821-7518-4 (ebook)
Chasing the Boogeyman Page 29