Many hands and many hearts worked together to produce the book you are now holding. I am most grateful to all the literacy workers who in one way or another contributed to this project. Thank you for letting me tell your stories.
Closer to home there are five very special men in my life without whose help the writing of Opening Doors would not have been possible:
John, my husband, who cooked the meals and cleaned the house when I was too engrossed in my writing to even answer the telephone. Thank you for giving me the freedom I needed to be able work on this project.
Josh and Tyler, my two young sons, who have grown up along with me these past two years. Thank you for being proud of me.
Pat Fahy, my dear and steadfast friend, who has been with me on this project from beginning to end. Thank you for believing I could do it even when I didn't.
Tom Morgan, my dad, who as a member of my editorial advisory committee, gave me strong and sound advice which helped to keep me focused. Thank you for your constant love and guidance.
Special thanks also to Velen Melin, for being my friend and confidant and for making me laugh; John Fisher, for recognizing years ago that documenting these stories was a good idea; Jim Brager, for painting a wonderful open door; Marlene Pasula for finding a way to keep the book alive; Milt Gilbertson, for lowering my rent so that I could afford to stay in my cozy office; my mom, Barbara Morgan, for keeping fresh flowers (as always) on my writing table while I was a "writer in residence" in Toronto and to Peter Gzowski, for being such a delightful friend and mentor.
Thanks too, to Ted Norris, Keith Anderson and Marie Claire Yuen for believing in this project; Wenda Housego and the AAAL Board and Margot Pollard and the LCA Board for the endorsements of the project; Alice Bowie, Beth Young and Margaret Holliston for the editorial advice and feedback; Wayne and Sharon for getting me from place to place; Bonnie Morris for putting up with all the changes and being a cheerful part of the relay team; Philip Merklinger for knowing more than I do about grammar and spelling and Kathy Niven for telling me this book is my most creative accomplishment in years.
To Andy Christianson, Jocelyn Doucet, Joe Skwarchuk, Brett Brown, Gae Mackwood, Roger Reid, Jun Mah, Kieran Bonner, Susan Horn, Murray Whitecotton, Martin Giesen, Leana Koch, Jill Stanley, Janice DePaoli, Donna Hackborn, Sandy Newell and anyone I might have missed, a special thanks for your expertise, encouragement and willingness to help when I needed it most.