To make sure I was getting the titles, clothing, and lingo correct with regard to World War II Britain, as well as some Cambridge and London geography, I asked historian John Henry Phillips to reviews select chapters and he gave me helpful feedback and suggestions.

Tom Bushey provided intel on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, specifically the location where Tusker’s family cabin is, where he learned to scuba dive.

Years before I even conceived of Depth Charge, I read a thriller by Pierre Gobinet called The Freelancers. I remember thinking, “This is the kind of novel I want to write.” I met Pierre on a cold night in Geneva, where he told me about his experience writing that novel, and I credit him with being a big inspiration to me. If you can find, The Freelancers, I highly recommend it.

Even as I was writing the first few chapters of Depth Charge, Andrew Revitt reached out to provide incredibly kind encouragement and real world advice on publishing and promoting my novel. It was on his suggestion that I set up the Depth Charge website and collected contact information from interested readers. Andrew also provided a cover art concept that I used as inspiration on my earliest manuscripts. Never underestimate the value of seeing your title and name on a book cover early on. It makes it feel official.

J.R. Seeger, a prolific writer and creator of the “Mike 4” thriller series, reached out and generously offered advice and encouragement, and sent me one of his novels to read. Now that Depth Charge is published, I am returning the favor, sending a copy to J.R., and I hope he enjoys it.

How can I adequately thank Paul Andrews? This hard working London-based designer offered his time and talents free of charge to create not only the book cover design, but all of my marketing images, animations, logos, and even did the typesetting of this book. It was an act of extreme generosity that I’ll never forget.

Similarly generous was my friend and talented composer, Oran Chan, who, upon seeing an early cover mockup, took it upon himself to compose an entire theme song for Depth Charge. I have never heard of a novel having its own soundtrack, but listening to the track on repeat was inspiring as I edited the book, and it will find its way into the audiobook and, one day, the film score (a writer can dream, right?).

My friend Rick Marei learned that Tusker’s diving watch was to be an Aquastar Benthos, and he generously provided me with some inspiration in the form of a vintage Benthos to wear while I wrote Depth Charge.