Behind Closed Doors (20 page)

At this point, God has blessed me to write seven books. But
Behind Closed Doors
will
always
be my baby. It is the first book I ever wrote and the book that began my career as a novelist. It is the book my mom and husband believed in from the very beginning—even though I wasn’t so sure what the feedback from others would be.

But as it turned out,
Behind Closed Doors
quickly became a Blackboard and Essence best seller. Partly because of all the wonderfully dedicated readers who gave it a chance and partly because of Emma Rodgers, owner of Black Images Book Bazaar in Dallas, Texas. This amazing woman immediately called
Behind Closed Doors
her baby and encouraged every one of her customers to purchase it. And if that wasn’t enough, she phoned other independent bookstores and encouraged them to order and sell it. So, from the bottom of my heart, Emma, I
thank you. Additionally, I am thankful to Frances Utsey at The Cultural Connection Bookstore in Milwaukee, who also hand-sold copy after copy.

I’d also like to thank every individual who supported me from the moment
Behind Closed Doors
was first released in January 1997: my wonderful husband, Will M. Roby Jr.; my mother, Arletha Stapleton, who is now deceased but is still very much with me; my brothers, Willie Jr. and Michael Stapleton; my dearest friends and supporters, Lori Whitaker Thurman, Kelli Tunson Bullard, Janell Green, Aileen Blacknell, Veronda Johnson, Dorothy Wright, Shurice Hunter, Christine Williams, Keith and Shari Grace of Grace Design, Paul Coates and Apryl Motley at Black Classic Press, Martha Moore, Mary Carthell, Vicky Pruitt, and Barb Polster. Thank you all for having such confidence in me from the start.

Many thanks to Carolyn Marino, Jennifer Civiletto, Michael Morrison, Lisa Gallagher, Debbie Stier and everyone else at HarperCollins for producing this new edition. It’s a dream come true.

And to my readers, thank you for your continued support. I am indebted.