acknowledgments

There were hundreds of moments when I wanted to bury this book deep inside folders within folders on my computer, like a little Russian doll. I would like to thank Jonathan Rabb, Ellen Horan, Martha Chang, Brendan Kiely, Esther Noe and Rob Weisberg for keeping me going. I’m also deeply grateful to Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, Erin Malone and Alexia Paul for their early insights and support, and to Polly McCall for her bottomless well of encouragement. My heartfelt thanks go to my agent, Alice Tasman, and to my editor, Stephanie Lane Elliott, for their willingness to ride the bumps with my characters and to ask the prickly questions I might otherwise have avoided. Thanks also to Krista Vitola and Jen Strada for their watchful eyes and to Hilary Weekes for her kind help. I’m forever indebted to Julie Moore, who set me free to write this by looking after my kids with amazing dedication and love. And finally, thank you to Richard d’Albert, my husband. When I give it my best shot it’s always with you in mind.