As much as this book is about weather and my own love of the
puzzles weather presents, it also is a labor of research and writing. This
brings me to thank those who made it possible for me to actually write Eye
of the Storm. The real beginning, and the continuing encouragement, comes
from my parents, Robert and Linda Rosenfeld, who always helped me to
follow my varied muses. I certainly cannot thank them enough for their
support and advice. Their boundless help alone, however, could not have
enabled me to write a book without the advice of many others: Through
clear, dynamic, and dedicated teaching, Larry Mack began my training in
his newspaper classes at Jackson (Michigan) High School. Alice Gross then
brought me into professional publishing, rescuing the journalist in me
after college; Sheila Donoghue fought battles for me and has been a valued
source of encouragement; Barbara Kahn, Nanette Wiese, and Barbara
Richman all provided professional wisdom, sage perspective, good humor,
and warm companionship as I learned the ropes of the magazine business.
Doug Addison and Doyle Rice, my editorial partners at Weatherwise, both
gave me great advice, great ideas, and ultimately some of the best times I
can imagine having while earning a paycheck. Merrill Joan Gerber gra-
ciously led me to Andree Abecassis, my agent, whose much-appreciated
conviction in me and in the subject matter, in turn, led me to the wise and
supportive Linda Regan at Plenum, where Vanessa Tibbitts, Nicole Tur-
geon, and Cathy Jewell all helped make these pages possible with hard
work and helpful advice. Here at home, Susanna Spiro gave me comfort,
understanding, and strength as together we endured a seemingly unre-
lenting succession of deadlines imposed by this year of writing and con-
centration.

But of the many who made an author out of me, Pat Hughes stands out
again, for as he awakened me to the weather, so he also introduced me to
the art of writing a good story. Editing my own first efforts and the work of
others, he repeatedly polished rambling, raw text into anecdotal gold,
always sharing the process with his usual generosity and irrepressible
enthusiasm. In hopes that this book can honor in some way his inspiring
example and valued friendship, I dedicate Eye of the Storm to Patrick Hughes
.

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