Monroe - Time Is a River

Each book is a journey during which I meet so many helpful, inspiring people. For this novel, especially, I have been humbled by the willingness of the following people to step forward to share their knowledge, offer much-needed information, support my work, and help me in any way they could.

First, I feel so fortunate to have my editor, Lauren McKenna. We worked shoulder to shoulder with enthusiasm and respect, and it was a delight to see our ideas come alive. I look forward to many more books together. Thank you to Louise Burke for all your input and support. Many people at Simon & Schuster worked hard to produce and promote this book, and your work was invaluable. Thanks to all.

My literary agents, Kimberly Whalen and Robert Gottlieb, deserve stars beside their names for advice and support that is much appreciated. Thanks, also, to my audio agent, Alanna Ramirez, and my foreign rights agent, Lara Allen at Trident Media Group. Youre a great team.

For ideas that sent my mind soaring and my fingers tapping, I send thanks to my sister, Marguerite Martino. Heres to the Dream Machine! And to my friend Martha Keenanthe lowcountry awaits your next visit.

I had a marvelous experience recording the audio book with Brilliance Audio, and hugs and thanks to Eileen and Bob Hutton, Elizabeth Pearsons, and Sandy Burr.

The world of fly-fishing is filled with wise and generous people eager to share their knowledge, insights, and experience. In particular I want to thank Starr Nolan of Brookside Guides, Asheville, North Carolina, for not only being my favorite teacher and guide, but for being the inspiring and dedicated leader of the North Carolina chapter of Casting for Recovery. I am indebted to Starr for reading my manuscript and making corrections, thus saving this novice from embarrassing errors like calling a fly rod a pole.

Thank you to Dana Rikimaru for her book, Fly Fishing: A Womans Guide. It is, indeed, everything you need to know to get startedand keep goingand was very helpful to me in writing the chapter headings. Thanks for your work with CFR, too.

Casting for Recovery is a national, non-profit program for women who have or have had breast cancer. The weekend retreats provide free counseling, educational services, and the sport of fly-fishing to promote mental and physical healing. I met many glorious, strong survivors and thank them for their time and courage. I especially want to thank the guides who gave so tirelessly and inspired me: Charity Rutter (and her fabulous book Rise Rings & Rhododendron ), Caroline Hassell, Linda Michael, Trish Dumaine, and Mary K. Jenkins. Thanks to Caroline Rhodes and Sarah Manucy at the Charleston Angler, and my fellow Reel Women, Catherine Rhea, Dawn Johnson, Sheila and Hadley Northen, Judy Boehm, Paula Skinner, Martha Dean Miller, and Susan Smythe. A special wave to my first fly-fishing teacher and dock pals, Clay and Martha Cable.

I am indebted to the many women who came forward to talk about their experiences with breast cancer. I continue to be impressed by their strength, courage, and honesty. A special thank-you to my dear friends Julie Beard, Brucie Harry, Mary Pringle, Terri Sword, and to Rosalind L. Connor and Ann Caldwell.

I appreciated more than I can say the support (and baked goods) from M. Fitzgerald, Lynn Noyes, James and Patti Frierson, and all the Kruesi, Brock, Frierson, and Killebrew family in wonderful Chattanooga. Thank you, Leah Greenberg, for readings with a view! The town of Watkins Mill and all the characters in this novel are strictly fiction. However, I did use the names of Becky, Skipper, and Katherine Shaffer and Charlie Aiken in this book with their permission. My writer friends, James Cryns, Patti Callahan Henry, Marjory Wentworth, Ciji Ware, Lindy Carter, and Sue Monk Kidd talked the story through with me and helped create magic in my mind. Thank you all so much!

A special farewell to beloved author Robert Jordan (James Rigney). His inspiration lives on through his words.

A nod to the incomparable Cornelia Fly Rod Crosby (Fly Rods Notebook), and to the many women in the history of fly-fishing who were an inspiration for the development of my character Kate Watkins, and who have shown the world that fly-fishing is a sport for women.

Many people work hard to introduce my books to new readers and I thank you all. For countless kindnesses over the years, thanks to: Patti Morrison, Larry Morey, and Emily Morrison at Barnes & Noble, Mt. Pleasant; Jennifer McCurry at Waldenbooks, Charleston; Tom and Vicki Warner at Litchfield Books; Cynthia Grabenbauer at Vero Beach Books; Christine Stanley, Lisa Estes, and Will Balk at Bay Street Trading Co.; Kim Stokes at Barnes & Noble, Hilton Head; Karen Carter at Edisto Books; Linda and Nat Malcolm at Indigo Books; and Victor Karcher at American Merchandising Service. And to Judy Watts, Cathy Blanco at the Book Exchange, Bill Thompson and all at Charlestons Post and Courier, Vicki Boyd at Moultrie News, Claudia Brinson at The State, Jason Zwicker, Buzzy Porter, and Terri Ehlinger. A special thanks to Jason Martino and the gang at ePage City in Chicago for the fabulous website that helps keep me connected to my readers.

As always, I conclude with those who come first in my lifemy love and thanks to Markus, Claire, John, Margaretta, and Zack for more than I can say here.

T he river was spawned high in the Appalachian Mountains formed of sedimentary rock and ancient ocean floor. Fed by rain and melted snow, rivulets of cold, clear water gush over boulders and between rocky ridges to lace the mountainsides. Thousands of miles of freestone streams run unchecked, cascading down to form the mighty rivers.

Mia Landan followed the river as it wound in a serpentine manner, deeper into the woods. To her right, the sienna-hued wall of rock was dotted with patches of bright green moss. To her left, the river raced on, rushing forward in a confident current. She reached over the passenger seat of her car to clutch a wrinkled sheet of paper from under a torn road map. Scribbled across the page of directions she read, Follow the river.

I am not lost, she said aloud, though she doubted her words. She was following the pebbles in the river like Hansel and Gretel, believing that they would lead her through the dark forest to a safe haven. Except Mia Landan no longer believed in fairy tales.