It can be difficult to pass a book off to an editor, when you know that editor is going to take Solomon’s sword to your baby. I knew I had chosen the right editor, though, when Sonny Brewer called me one afternoon in September 2011 to talk about the story. Only he couldn’t; he was too overcome at the first mention of Karly. I knew then that Sonny got this story, and got what I was trying to do as a writer. This book is not the one I gave to Sonny. It is a much better book. Thank you, Sonny.
Michelle Dotter also added her keen insights and kept me from stumbling along. Thank you, Michelle.
Thank you, David Sheehan, for entrusting Karly’s story to me. You know how you tell me you just want to live a life that honors Karly? My hope is that I’ve written a story that honors you, the way you honor her. You have taught me more about what it means to live a life of faith than I ever learned in Sunday School. I hope Karly’s story stirs up the waters between Oregon and Ireland. I hope and pray we save another child’s life.
While this book is memoir, I did not rely on memory alone. Shawn Field’s defense attorney, Clark Willes, shared his files with me. Additionally, I did further research, conducted dozens of interviews, and had generous assistance from the staff at the Benton County Courthouse and the Oregon Department of Justice, as well as articles from the Corvallis Gazette Times, who reported the story with diligence. I have taken the liberties to alter five names: Jack, who remains in touch with Shawn Field, and Kate and Hillary, who are minors, and Chuck and Missy McDonald, Hillary’s parents, who are trying to protect her.
Thank you to Mike Wells, Joan Demarest, Judge Janet Holcomb, Scott Heiser, DeLynn Zoller, Dr. Shanilka deSoyza, the jury of fifteen, the staff at the Benton County Courthouse, the staff at the Oregon Department of Justice, the Corvallis Police Department, Dan Koenig, Clark Willes, Karen Scheler and Albany’s ABC House, Representative Sara Gelser, Emmet Whittaker, Liz Sokolowski, Bill Furtick, Rick Wallace, Noreen Sheehan, Andrea Sheehan, and the countless others who contributed to this story.
These people read early versions of this book and offered valuable feedback: Debbie Johnson, John Cole, Rick Wallace, Bob Welch, Peg Willis, Rebekah Sanderlin, Kathy Richards, Andy Meisenheimer, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, Eleanor Lucas, and Konnie Handschuch. Thank you.
Shelby Zacharias read the manuscript countless times, paying careful attention to all the litter I’d left behind. She cleaned up after me without complaint. Thank you, Shelby. Ashley Sinner took my idea and Sonny’s idea and came up the perfect title. Thank you, Ashley, and also for giving me and Daddy a precious “Sinner” to adore.
And to my circle of writer friends— your stories kept me laughing through the tears. Thank you to Patti Callahan Henry, Michael Morris, Marjorie Wentworth, Mary Alice Monroe, River Jordan, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, Gary Nelson, Kerry Madden, Renea Winchester, Robert Dugoni, Bob Welch, Amy Sorrells, Billy Coffey and all you other Luddites committed to the craft.
Thank you to Communications Department at Central Washington University for giving me the opportunity to share my love of writing and journalism with the writers and journalists of tomorrow. I’ll always be a Beaver Believer but I’m honored to be counted among the Wildcats.
Big hugs to all my Facebook and Twitter friends. You keep the lonelies away when I’m writing. Thank you for the prayers and the oneliners.
Thank you to Thom Chambliss of the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association and Wanda Jewell of the Southeast Independent Booksellers Association for all your tireless efforts on behalf of writers, readers and booksellers. And a huge thank you to all you indie booksellers.
These friends listened and encouraged me as I talked my way through the Karly story. Thank you Karin Wilson, Peggy Wright, John B. and Stacey Howell, Skip and Nancy Jones, Linda Barnes, Lynn Wilkes, Gary Nelson, Lois Breedlove, Debbie Johnson, Rick Wallace, Becky Philpott, the ladies at Wednesday morning Bible study, and my care group buddies.
Tim, honey, thank you for being my faithful sponsor all these years. I hope I can return the hospitality someday soon. And Mama, thank you for all the ways you kept me safe.
A Silence of Mockingbirds Page 26