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 Readers
I know that I was laughing a lot as I wrote Queenie and Herc, but would my potential audience be laughing too? Would they see the characters the same way and what emotions would they feel when they weren’t supposed to be laughing? I needed to know. So, I am indebted to those who provided this needed perspective and strong positive affirmation of Queenie and Herc’s entertainment value by reading and commenting on early versions of the manuscript.
I’d like to particularly thank my first readers: Paul Ware , Neona Mejia , Tamara Smith , Dr. James Wall , Mark Coleman , Maria Clapp , Marianna Hamilton , Sachin Ahuja , Sung Park , Stephanie DeAugustinis , Oba B. Warren , Eugene Chu , Eniko Fodor, Jeff Turk.
 Inspiration
Although the Queenie and Herc story is fictional, it is natural to draw upon a lifetime of acquaintances for the creation of various characters:
Stunning Brazilian Marina Machado  , instantly inspired Queenie and Herc's lucious teenager, Marina Gabriella. Thank you Marina.
Along with a big dose of laughter from Veronica Weber, the delightful Valenzuela twins of Queenie and Herc were inspired by two beautiful women: Donna Marie Campbell  and Araceli Irra  . Gracias.
Fond remembrances of a precocious little girl bring 8-year-old Heidi O’Hagan  into the story. Thank you, Heidi.
Queenie and Herc’s fun-loving, brash teenager Kittie and her boyfriend, Don,  came directly from long-time friends, Kittie and Don Clapp. And, in the same way, the hero's out of town buddy, Nick and girl friend, Connie  were inspired by Paul and Connie Johnson. Thanks guys.
I offer much appreciation to Ravi Chopra, for inspiring the charismatic Ravi character,  , and to Charles Ammann for inspiring the hero’s square, but always trustworthy, Dark Vue Apartment roommate, Charlie. 
Thank you Oba B. Warren, first for contributions as an early manuscript reader, and then as inspiration for the Bernie character. 
And, it should become clear who the celebrity is that inspired this loveable character  . Thank you, ???
 Name dropping
The bad guys in Queenie and Herc are purely fictional and are unrelated to any real persons, living or dead. However, the names of some of the positive-role, fictional characters were initially chosen to honor and entertain friends who fit his/her particular character in one or more ways. Several have since contributed to their character's website portrayal.
 Editing
The author would like to express his sincere appreciation to Johanne St. Henri, as the perfect professional editor to work with on refinements of the Queenie and Herc novel. With all the right talents and tools, a sense of humor, and a deep appreciation for affairs of the heart, Johanne was able to refine and improve, without jeopardizing the story’s inherent charm.
Many thanks also to Patricia Lawler for her efforts on the early manuscripts that focused attention on shortcomings and led to considerable improvements in subsequent versions.
 The ego-crusher
One of the many ego-busting episodes in the Queenie and Herc Muscle Car Era story involves the hero’s '66 Corvette  as modified by his buddy, Lawton. The author offers many thanks to the real Lawton Ferreira of Top Flight Corvette in San Diego, for his expert development of the real potential movie car’s performance capabilities and other refinements.
 Website Contributions
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