title: Gender: A Reader for Writers
author: Megan L. Titus
description: <br /><strong>Megan L. Titus</strong> directs the composition program at Rider University, where she is an assistant professor of English.<br /><br /><strong>Wendy L. Walker</strong> is a professional assistant professor of English at Texas A &amp; M University--Corpus Christi.<br />
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  ## [_Acknowledgments_](nav.xhtml#r_idParaDest-33)
  
  
  THIS NOVEL WOULD NOT EXIST WITHOUT THE PATIENCE, faith, and adroit editing,
  both sweeping and fine-tuned, of my amazing editor, Katherine Tegen.
  
  
  It also would not have the humanity or the thematic and historical depth I
  hope it does without the influence and help of my adult daughter and son,
  Megan and Peter, themselves now accomplished creative artists. Both traveled
  to Florence to research. Both read the manuscript multiple times at various
  stages, lending me their own imagination, artistic eye, and interpretive
  talents. Their insights bolstered characters, cut fat, pushed dramatic moments
  to their fullest import, and honed the issues raised by Ginevra’s life and
  Leonardo’s portrait of her. They prodded me to be brave, to add bittersweet
  humor. Peter saved me from a tepid, unsatisfactory ending. Megan’s ability to
  research and make sense of information, minute or large, added dimension and
  pith to Ginevra’s personality. H