Chapter 1 of the Paige Foster Letters

First of four letters

It's taken more than a decade to reach a point where I'm willing to talk about the extraordinary woman who bred Atticus and sacrificed to place him in my life. From the very beginning of my book proposal, I protected her, going so far as to change her name and the state she lived in.

Those who have read Following Atticus will appreciate the Paige Foster letters the most. Some of the story will be familiar. But if you have not read the book, I hope the essence of the person who changed my life is captured by these words.

The first photo Paige sent me of 6-week old Atticus.

First, there was Max. His full name, after I welcomed him into my home when he was unwanted at 12, was Maxwell Garrison Gillis. The middle and last names were tributes to two famous Newburyport newspaper publishers who laid the track for me, my own rabblerousing, and a fight against unfairness.

Max arrived when I was not looking for a dog while living in a downtown apartment that did not allow animals.

When Nancy Noyes o…