The cover art was painted by Mary W. Prugh, my grandmother, who passed away in the Spring of 2005. She lived her entire life in Knoxville and was a watercolor artist for most of that time. In helping to go through her house and finding homes for all of her possessions, I came across this unfinished street scene. It is quite atypical of her normal style. She painted mostly still life, landscape and portrait works. I love the way it just hints at the subject, and how the texture of the paper shows through.

I come from a family of artists, where creativity was always held in the highest regard. When I was a kid, if you could make something, that was the surest way to win approval. My mother and sister are both accomplished painters. My mother makes her living painting portraits. I think this love of art comes from my grandmother.

One of my most prized possessions is her portrait of me as a child.