Acknowledgements

I wish to thank many people for their untiring support over the years it took to complete the Waddodle series.

To my loving parents, Leonard and Anne Ballard La Flamme, who taught me the joy of reading and encouraged me to express my thoughts on paper. I regret they did not live to see my book in print.

A special thanks for the encouragement of my brother and loyal fan, Richard La Flamme, a fifth grade teacher and Scoutmaster who owned The Shack where the Waddodle series was born; who valued children’s literature, loved my stories and felt I had something worthwhile to contribute. He died before seeing my book published, only months after finishing his own memoirs: A Robin’s Winter.

To my loyal and true sisters, Nancy La Flamme and Joey Randall for repeatedly boosting me up with their wonderful sense of humor when I faltered.

To my three sons, Skip, Tom, and Tim Beighey and three daughters, Susan Morrell, Elizabeth Miller and Anne Woodbury who believed in me and patiently offered loving encouragement throughout their growing years and beyond.

And to my husband, Larry, for his enduring and loving support; for teaching me how to use a word processor which enabled me to transcribe my writing from typing paper and carbon copies into this convenient new media; for helping me lay out the final draft; handling the business transactions and paperwork; for boosting my morale through long periods of doubt and discouragement; but most importantly for always believing in me and giving me that final push I needed to publish my work.

Many thanks to other family members and dear friends, too numerous to mention, who cheered me on offering encouragement throughout the long years it took to write this series.

I thank all my story characters that have lived with me so long, I feel they are part of my family. Often I grew discouraged, especially when I had to put aside my writing for months at a time…even years, then start all over again. Through the rearing of six children, thirty-two years of marriage and three moves…and countless rewrites, I persevered because of my family’s loving encouragement and my desire to write.

I frequently asked myself what I was doing writing about raccoons for years on end? What made me think anyone would want to read stories about a family of raccoons and their friends and enemies?

Working at my computer, I would look at the picture sitting on my desk of two adorable raccoons and an owl perched in a tree and remember Theodore Waddodles’s wise words, ‘Always look forward, never behind. Thank you Wildlife Drawings by Jim Wilson, Orlando, Florida for your unsuspecting support and allowing me the privilege to use your drawing for the cover of my book.

I have a wonderful feeling of accomplishment for having finished my stories. I loved writing them and hope they will be well received by those who read them, but if not, I still had a wonderful time writing them.

My deepest appreciation is extended to one and all. I love you.