So lucky. . . . So lucky to have David Hale Smith and Inkwell Management on my side. Lucky to have had gotten Cal Morgan’s yes, and his guidance. Lucky to have been paired with Eric Meyers, who infused this project with thoughtful insight and important momentum. Lucky to have the support of Emily VanDerwerken, Kathryn Ratcliffe-Lee, Laura Brown, Keith Hollaman, Bob Alunni, Jamie Lynn Kerner, Jennifer Heuer, and many others at Harper. Lucky to have the faith of Shari Smiley of the Gotham Group. Lucky to enjoy the friendship and wisdom of Al Riske and Mark Richardson. Lucky for the reality checks from Jürgen Bürger, Jenny Allen, John Williamson, and Jennifer Bardsley. Lucky to have Carmen Bardsley’s unconditional love and support. Lucky to be the proud father of Jack Bardsley and Dylan Bardsley, whose rambunctious Nerf wars and water play some years ago as young boys provided a formative spark for this book. Lucky to have the love, support, and patience of Nancy Tourkolias Bardsley, without whom none of this would be possible.
Lucky for every reader.
And lucky to have once worked with the real Bob, whose example of stealth rebellion in the face of useless meetings stuck with me all these years.