I was first exposed to sinkholes and karst terrain after moving to Ocala, Florida in the late 1970s and rediscovered my interest in the subject while researching mineral formations in central Pennsylvania. The advent of the Internet (and my first access to it in 1995) allowed me to ask questions of many experts in the field. I read through textbooks on karst at Pennsylvania State University and visited the Pennsylvania Geological Survey, where William Kochanov took the time to explain the mechanics of sinkhole formation and Richard Keen pulled library materials that furthered my education on the subject.

In 1996, several draft chapters intended for this book launched my career as a children’s author. Focusing on broader topics of earth science, I laid this book aside while fulfilling my contract with Twenty First Century Books. After being turned down for "too narrow a topic" with five different publishers, I am very thankful that June Cussen at Pineapple Press found my proposal appealing, bringing me back to this project to create a book.

In 2000, I put out a call to geologists around the country for photographs and information. Many responded and took the time to work with me: Joe McGregor, Trent Faust, and Pete Swarzenski, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS); Larry Dean, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Harley Means, Florida Geological Survey; Sam Frushour, Indiana Geological Survey; David C. Kopaska-Merkel, Geological Survey of Alabama; Jim Currens, Kentucky Geological Survey; and David Hubbard, Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, Division of Mineral Resources (VDMME/DMR).

Thanks to all of the photographers and researchers who responded to my e-mails and personal calls for contributions to this book. Dave Bunnell, editor of the NSS News, provided excellent foreign photos, as did David Hubbard from his own personal archives. James Rebmann provided an essential series of photos on sinkhole remediation. Mike Gentry at NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center helped tremendously by tracking down some hard-to-find space shuttle images. Historical photo recommendations came from James Cusick at the P. K. Yonge Library of Florida History, Department of Special Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida. The Florida State Archives provided images from their collection as well.  Thanks to my mother, Linda Friend, who kept up an archive of sinkhole-related newspaper clippings for me for more than five years.

As for review, thanks to fellow Florida Mineral Friends member Sam Upchurch, who suggested a few changes, and Rich Evans, who did my initial proofreading. And special thanks to my expert reader, Ernst H. Kastning, professor of geology at Radford University (Virginia) and a leading expert on karst and sinkholes.  With his input, I feel confident in the quality of this book as an educational resource. Ernst clarified some of the key points, corrected my scientific errors, and provided additional resource material that I was able to incorporate into the book. 

This book is dedicated to my friend and cheerleader “Dr. Fred” Bortz, for encouraging my enthusiasm about natural science writing and for helping me take the leap from curious student to author.