by C. E. Murphy
"Joanie?"
I straightened up, shock spilling down my spine. "Gary? Are you okay?" My septuagenarian best friend never called me Joanie unless something was wrong. Usually something with me, but he couldn't possibly know what had gone on the past few days. He was in Ireland, for heaven's sake.
"I called yesterday. You didn't call back. I'm in Seattle."
His voice was older and shakier than I'd ever heard it. I got up, hands cold and stomach in knots. "I only saw the message a little while ago and hadn't had a chance--Gary, what's wrong? What's going on? Why are you in Seattle?"
"It's Annie, Jo. It's my wife. She's alive."
* * * * *
to be concluded in
SHAMAN RISES
the final book of the Walker Papers
Acknowledgments
Mountain Echoes was written in a blitz, and I am particularly grateful to Kate Laity, who provided me with a spare bedroom and no distractions for a four-day writing retreat during which I wrote a full third of the novel.
I'm also especially grateful to Mikaela Lind, who is the Word Warrior most likely to show up and make me write in the mornings. I'm not sure I would've gotten it done in time without her regular appearances.
I'm quite certain I wouldn't have gotten it done in time if my mom, Rosie Murphy, hadn't babysat quite a lot, and equally certain that my husband Ted's taking time off work and sending me on the writing retreat was invaluable. So thank you all most particularly. I couldn't have done it without you.
(I swear, at some point I'm going to stop running so close to the line, but I don't know when...)
I'd like to add shout-outs to Paul-Gabriel Wiener for giving me one word where five would do to describe a vehicular analogy, and to Zelerie Rogers for her help with local geography. A general apology is probably also due to Zel for the liberties I've taken with Cherokee Town and the Qualla. All changes and inconsistencies are born of my mind, and should not be laid at her feet!
Props are also, always, due to my editor, Mary-Theresa Hussey (who has gone above and beyond the call of duty for the Walker Papers this past year--check out the Gary-focused short story collection No Dominion to see what help she's been!), to Harlequin's art department for another stunning cover, and to my agent, Jennifer Jackson. Thank you all for being awesome.
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ISBN: 9781460306475
Copyright (c) 2013 by C.E. Murphy
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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