title: Virtual Miracles: 40 True Stories of Love, Courage and the Amazing Kindness of Strangers
author:  Karen Derrico 
description: Karen Derrico is a freelance writer and journalist specializing in human-interest stories. Her first award-nominated book, Unforgettable Mutts, was featured in Good Housekeeping magazine, Publishers Weekly, the Washington Post, Seattle Times, and on radio talk shows nationwide. Following the book's release, Karen organized the first-ever "Million Mutt March" on the U.S. Capitol grounds in May 2000, generating international media coverage.<br>In addition to writing, Karen also enjoys creating digital photography artwork of her rustic and historical surroundings in Northern Virginia, where she resides with her husband, son, and two four-legged "kids," Barney and Zelda.<br>
zlib_text: Dedication
  To Lester, thank you for giving me my love story. 
   
   
   
   
  Acknowledgements
  To my Women of Mayhem
  I have the best betas in the world.  Sam Price, Debbie Dumke, Lena
  
  Gaitanou, and Chris Kovacich.  Thank you so much for taking time out of your
  lives to help me shape my stories.  Your advice is invaluable.
  Margreet Asselbergs, thank you for giving me the most perfect covers.  Your
  work is incredible, setting the bar higher each time.  Your ability to match the cover
  with the story it contains is amazing.  Love you, my Viking Goddess.
  Dana Hook Thank you for always having my back.  For looking out for me
  when I am cutting my nose off despite my face and when I have twenty words in a
  sentence when it should just have seven.  I love you babe and everything you have
  ever done for me.  Thank
  You.                                                                                               
  Karen, Kerri, Jenny and Marsha.  Thank you for always believing.  Your
  friendship means the w