Author's Notes

The Love - I wanted to share with all of you the importance of my DH in this whole process. Yes he knows that this story has been written. Yes he knows what it entails, yes he has read it. Yes he is the reason, in the end that I did. Noted in several places within the story are references to the fact that I will be going home to the man I love, the man that loves me. As the story unfolded, I knew there was something. Some reason it was there and had to be seen through. What I didn't totally understand until I had it completed was that the story was telling me this:

My husband loves me, he always has and always will. He has seen me through good and bad. He has always forgiven me any mistake, little or big that I have ever made or any that I ever will make. And no matter where I may go or what happens in my life, he will always be there waiting for me when I return. He is my Mr. Darcy, my Jack Worthing, my Edward Pettigrew, my Paul Ashworth, my Valmont, my Matthew Field, my Michael Condron and my Henry Dashwood, even after 29 years. He knows of my obsession, even encourages it, and sits to watch movies with me, shares the latest news and gossip of Colin with me, tolerates my many photos, magazines, posters and clippings hanging about our computer room and listens to the CDs with me. Could anyone ever want for anything more? I think not. I Love You Thom.

The Music - My husband and I share a deep affinity with the music of Yanni. We have the common emotional bond to wit: this music reaches out and touches our souls. I could not have used any other music on these pages.

The Story - Thus ends my little dabbling into my little fantasy. I don't know the reasons that this saga came into my head, but once it did I had to write it down. The decision to share it or not weighed on my mind the whole time I wrote. I chose not to connect it to my sight out of respect for Mr. Firth. Nonetheless, it is written and I hope can be enjoyed. I have never undertaken anything like this before in my life. I did write the parallel for BJD and the sequel to Donovan Quick. Those I feel are quite a different genre than this story. To be honest, before Mark's Diary, I had never written anything other than a few poems in my life. A new profession is perhaps emerging. (not)

The Friendship - I want to thank, in no small way, Olivia "Livi" Todd for her assistance, insight, keen eye and participation in the development and completion of this journey.

I hope you enjoyed the story.

Diane