ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First and foremost, thanks to my brilliant, committed, and enthusiastic editor, Nancy Paulsen, who was immensely patient as this novel evolved. Nancy’s ability and dedication to helping me create a story out of the flimsy chaos of early drafts is unparalleled. I am particularly glad Nancy encouraged me to experiment with this novel’s form and thus to grow as a writer.
Rob Weisbach is more than an agent; he is my rock. He is critical, intelligent, humorous, generous, kind, sharp, witty, wise, and always wonderful.
Stephen Roxburgh, my most trusted “outside” reader, blessed and honored me with his steadfast belief in Veda’s story. His profound insights, comments, and unswerving faith were the guiding light of her journey—from Eros, through Charis, to Agape. Thanks also to Carolyn Coman for her unstinting warmth and encouragement from the very beginning, when I started climbing the stairs as a writer.
Several poets broadened my understanding and helped in different ways: Richard Blanco, Peter Covino, Rigoberto Gonzalez, Peter Johnson, Scott Hightower.
Sincerest gratitude to the many gracious artists who took time to share with me: Sri V. P. Dhananjayan, Ahalya Bhaskar, Smt. Angelika Sriram, Smt. Bragha Bessel, Jaya Teacher, Kavya Suresh, Smt. Lakshmi Ramaswamy, Smt. Maya Shekar, Mala Ramadorai, Smt. Nithya Vaidyanarayanan, Smt. Renuka Subramaniam, Smt. Shoba Sharma, Smt. Sumitra Gautama,
Smt. Sashikala Ananthanarayanan, Sri J. Suryanarayana Murthy, Smt. Sudha Chandran, Dr. Sudha Gopalakrishnan, Smt. Sumangali Neroor, Smt. Saraswathi Vasudevan, Uma Venkatraman.
Heartfelt thanks to the generous medical personnel and differently abled persons who spoke to me and especially to those who read a draft and supported me: Mr. Robert C. James, CPO, Mr. Joshua James, CPO, and Ms. Becky Blaine of South County Limb and Brace in Wakefield, Rhode Island; Smt. Ambika Kameshwar, director of the Rasa-Arpita Center for Theater Arts and Special Needs and the Academy for Research and Performance of Indian Theater Arts; Dr. S. Sunder, Founder and Managing Trustee, Foundation for the Rehabilitation, Education and Empowerment of the Disabled of Madras; Ms. Meena Dhadha and the staff and patients at Mukti Charitable Center, M.S. Dhadha Foundation; Mr. Michael Nunnery of Nunnery Orthotics, North Kingstown, Rhode Island; Staff of Prosthetic Artworks, LLC, Pennsylvania; Dr. Marakatham Venkatraman, Dr. Ashok Venkatraman, Dr. Venkatesh Balasubramaniam, Dr. Jeff Bachmann, Dr. Kevin Dennehy, Dr. S. Devarajan, Dr. Juergen Dolderer, Dr. Sue Ferranti, Dr. T. V. Jayaraman, Dr. S. Jay Jayshankar, Dr. Sandeep Murali, Dr. Elwira Pyz, Dr. Raman Srinivasan, Dr. Lynn Ho; John Bezak, Jeannine Atkins, Judy Begalau, Betty Cotter, Lakshmi Chayapathi, Jim Cipelewski, Kathleen Gremel, Jyoti Ganesh, Mary Heikes, Anne Herman, Maria Iacuele, Kris King, Kevin Klitze, Treacy Lewander, Sarah Ornstein, Sarah Lamstein, Emily Petit, Vicki Palmquist, Linda Pavonetti, Susanna Reich, McCall Robertson, Laurie Rothenberg, Kay Schenk, Maura Stokes, Carole G. Vogel, Maiité van Hentenryck, Sara Kreger, Jacqueline Woodson.
Finally, much more than mere thanks to my spouse, Rainer Lohmann, and our daughter, Karuna, for the love that nurtures and sustains me.
A Time to Dance Page 16