Embryo #39 is my second book. After finishing my first book last year, I decided writing it had been good practice but that I needed to concentrate my energies on a subject that would ignite my imagination.

An article in our local newspaper about the controversy over FDA approval of cloned meat riveted my attention. Incidentally, the cloning firm mentioned in the article was just a few blocks from my office. The firm's website was fascinating and included photos of cloned performance horses. Further research turned up amazing and little-known happenings in the animal research world, especially in the area of hybrids, merging the DNA of more than one type of animal.

With help from wonderful consultants in the field of veterinary medicine, animal communication, animal research, and law enforcement, writing Embryo #39 has turned out to be huge fun. If I never find an agent and never sell the book, it was still worth the nights and weekends to put it together.

Special thanks to Kathy Fogelberg, DVM, who read the entire book and helped me get the veterinary segments as true to life as possible. My writer buddies, Mary Lynn Stafford and Gordon Carmichael, read the entire book TWICE and have been an awesome resource for edits. And, Ric and Ava, thank you so much for understanding my absence and encouraging me along the way.

Cindy Morgan Antolik

Cookie Wookie,

beagle extraordinaire.

Cookie almost didn't stay at our house. She had horrible biting and chewing issues as a puppy that didn't clear up when she got older. Not good when you have children around. Tried everything imaginable for a couple of years and finally gave up. Looked for someone to take her. No takers. Then one night we saw a dog trainer on Animal Planet say that if you've tried everything, it could be that the dog just needs more attention. He recommended that people who work during the day allow the dog to sleep with them on the bed. It worked instantly. No more biting and chewing. Six years later, Cookie's still snoring away on our bed.