The bathtubs and the fireplace were the only things left in the building and, at first, only the fireplace worked. Even the doors and light fixtures were missing.

The whole building shook when the coal trains came by. We clutched each other and said, 'We've got to find people who love trains.' And we did.

With its balconies, patio and archway, I saw an Italian palace. And since it was the last historic building in the area still standing after the floods, I saw a place that needed to live again.

In fact, we've been told that the miners had to enter the building by the side doors, and not the front entrance.

We met in New York in 2001, where we were working on recovery from the 9/11 attack. We came down here in 2002, after the floods. Dan was working in logistics for FEMA, and drove by this building practically every day.

By no means did my first book sell. I took a few runs at it. You'll never see those early efforts 'cause they're burned, straight to the fireplace where they belong.