Ghost in the Wires_ My Adventures as the World's Most Wanted Hacker - Kevin Mitnick [199]
I’m especially thankful to 2600 and all my supporters who stood by me and spent their valuable time and energy getting the word out to anyone who would listen, voicing their concern over and objections to my unfair treatment and the hyperbole created by those who sought to profit from the “Myth of Kevin Mitnick.”
I’ve had too many experiences with lawyers, but I am eager to express my thanks to the lawyers who, during the years of my negative interactions with the criminal justice system, stepped up and offered to help me when I was in desperate need. I have come to respect, admire, and appreciate the kindness and generosity of spirit given to me so freely by so many. I wish to thank Greg Aclin, Fran Campbell, Robert Carmer, Debbie Drooz, John Dusenbury, Sherman Ellison, Omar Figueroa, Jim French, Carolyn Hagin, Rob Hale, Barry Langberg, David Mahler, Ralph Peretz, Michelle Carswell Pritchard, Donald C. Randolph, Tony Serra, Skip Slates, Richard Steingard, the Honorable Robert Talcott, Barry Tarlow, Gregory Vinson, and John Yzurdiaga.
From Bill Simon
In my Acknowledgments for The Art of Deception, I wrote about Kevin that “this is not a work of fiction, although the central figure could be one I might invent for a screenplay thriller. I built for this one-of-a-kind coauthor a very healthy respect.” And I commented that “his working style differs from mine so radically that one might wonder how we could have coauthored a book and come out planning to do other projects together. We have both stretched and learned and found pleasure in the intensely hard work of turning his knowledge and experiences into a fun read.” Though this, our third book together, has been by far the hardest on our friendship, I’m happy to report that the friendship and mutual respect survived and strengthened despite the sandpaper frictions of the process. I expect that this book will last a long time; I expect our friendship will last as long or even longer.
It would be hard to beat the talents of John Parsley as an editor. Supportive but demanding, bringing out the best, always there when you need him. John’s guidance has made this a better book, and I’m in his debt. His estimable chief copyeditor, Peggy Freudenthal, proved to be a champion—putting up with a challenging task, performing peerlessly, and never losing her cool; Kevin and I are both indebted to her.
It’s never easy to finish a book without having my wife and companion of so many years, the multitalented Arynne Simon, supporting me, cheering me on, making me work just a little harder on finding the right phrase. But her smiles still keep me going.
Agents Bill Gladstone and David Fugate both had a hand in making this project come together. A tip of the hat to you both.
In addition to the input from Kevin, I’m grateful to those others who helped fill in parts of the story—in particular Kevin’s mother, Shelly Jaffe, and his grandmother Reba Vartanian; his ex, Bonnie; Assistant U.S. Attorney David Schindler; Kevin Poulsen; former Pacific Bell Security Investigator Darrell Santos; former Detective, now Chief David Simon, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (and my twin brother). The book is richer for their willingness to share. But I especially want to acknowledge the late Justin Petersen, aka Eric Heinz, who was forthcoming in ways that went beyond my expectations.
I especially want to recognize Sheldon Bermont for his contributions to this book. And to grandchildren Vincent and Elena Bermont, whose smiles and enthusiasms have helped keep me in a happy mood.
Finally—last mentioned, a place of honor—I extend a deep bow to Charlotte Schwartz, who makes all the difference.
Me in my pre-hacking days, around age nine, when my hobby was performing magic tricks (Shelly Jaffe)
Me at age twenty-one, with my mother in Stockton, California, 1984
With bride Bonnie Vitello at our wedding reception, June 1987
My hacking partner Lewis