Acknowledgments

When I set out to write a book on dynamic simulations using Maya, I prepared myself for the largest undertaking of my career. I had several powerful computers at my disposal. I allotted a large chunk of time from my daily routine, and I bottled up a ton of energy and motivation. A few weeks into the project, none of this would matter. Like a heavy downpour of rain and hail, so were the misfortunate events. Blow after blow, my seemingly well-constructed plans were dismantled. Each week presented a new hurdle to jump, from personal loss to computer failure; it was a decade of challenges condensed into a few months. ▪ Throughout this turbulent time, one thing remained constant: the support of the people around me. I am so grateful for my wife, Brindle. She keeps me balanced and whole; without her, I am nothing but a shell. I must thank my four kids who listened endlessly to my technobabble and somehow always had the answers. ▪ I would like to thank the entire team at Wiley for their incredible patience and understanding in creating this book. Most important, I want to thank Mariann Barsolo. Her faith and guidance kept me motivated throughout the writing of this book. I'd also like to thank Jim Compton, Angela Smith, and Sharon Wilkey for all their editorial guidance, and Technical Editor Campbell Strong for lending his technical expertise.