Acknowledgments

Blake: Many people contributed to this book over the years. Author and colleague, Zigurd Mednieks, made it possible as part of a series of small, replaceable titles. My agent, Carol Jelen, helped me pitch it, and the original editor, Laura Lewin, guided it during the first years. Adnan Begovic and Gil Zahaiek kept us honest technically, and Sheri Replin is our maven of prose. The incredibly patient Malobika Chakraborty supported the project through some very dark days. Lori Lyons and Aswini Kumar carried it over the finish line. Most of all, though, thanks to my co-author, Larry Schiefer, whom I was thrilled to score as a tech reviewer and who rescued this book from oblivion, breathed new life into it, and made it worth reading. You absolutely rocked it, Larry.

Larry: I would like to start by thanking my amazing wife, Shannon. Your never-ending patience and encouragement were essential to making this project happen. I could not have done it without you. I also want to thank my sons, Aidan and Ian, for your understanding when Dad was distracted or spending long hours writing. I love the three of you more than you’ll ever know.

I’d like to thank my co-author G. Blake Meike for the opportunity to work with you on this project. Writing a book was something I’ve always wanted to do, but I never knew how to get started or had the courage to take the first step. This has been a great experience, and I’ll be forever grateful.

A technical book like this is very challenging to write, especially for a moving target like Android! I would like to thank our technical reviewers for your hard work and feedback. Adnan Begovic and Gil Zahaiek, your insight as Android experts was invaluable. To our editors, Malobika Chakraborty and Sheri Replin, thank you for your understanding, patience, and a good prodding when needed. Through all the challenges, you both have stood steadfast in making sure this book happened, and I’m grateful for both of your insights and efforts.