Introduction

   

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Acknowledgments

I've discovered that writing a book is something of a cooperative effort. I am thankful that there are always editors, colleagues, friends , and family who are ready and willing to lend their help. It is these people who provide encouragement and keep you focused on the task at hand. Without them, you could easily "put it off until tomorrow."

First and foremost, I would like to thank Kathleen Tibbetts at Addison-Wesley for her unwavering support and for providing me with the opportunity to write this book. She has been just as enthusiastic about this project as I have been. I look forward to working with her on further projects.

Next, my deepest thanks to my good friend, colleague, and technical editor, Jim Booth. I have a great deal of respect for Jim's knowledge on the subject of database design, and his comments have been invaluable. He and I have a thick porterhouse steak and a bottle of fine red wine waiting for us once this book is out on the market.

I also owe a debt of gratitude to my good friend and colleague Christopher R. Weber. In spite of a busy consulting and lecture schedule, Chris reviewed a number of chapters and provided valuable feedback. Now, if we could both find the time to sit down and discuss music . . . (we're both musicians .)

I'd like to acknowledge some of the many people who have shared their experience and knowledge with me and have had a positive influence on my career in the field of database management: Karen Watterson, Mike Johnson, Karl Fischer, Paul Litwin, John Viescas, Ken Getz, and Gregory Piercy. My thanks to you all.

My sincerest and deepest appreciation goes to my very dear friend and mentor, Alastair Black. Not only was he gracious enough to review every word in the entire book; he and his wife, Julia, opened their home to me and treated me as one of their own. His immeasurable and invaluable help in the writing of this book cannot be overstated. I've learned more about the craft of writing in these past months than at any other time in my professional or personal life.

Last, but certainly not least, a special thanks to my wife, Kendra. Every married author realizes, by the end of the work, how much he owes to the patience of the spouse and is moved to recognize the priceless contribution of interest and forbearance. But I am enjoined not to make as much of this as it deserves , because Kendra strongly opposes public displays of affection (PDAs as she calls them), whether in person or in print. So the only thing I'll say is this: Thanks, Ked. Now we can resume a normal life.

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