Acknowledgments 

A novel is written alone and yet never in isolation: a paradox to be sure. There are so many people who have made this novel possible, and I am both humbled and grateful.

My agent, Meg Ruley, you are both an extraordinary visionary and a stalwart ally. I am the luckiest to have you by my side for this incredible journey! Your ideas, humor, good-natured alliance, and your changes to this tale have been invaluable. To the geniuses at Jane Rotrosen Agency, starting with Jane Rotrosen Burky and Andrea Cirillo, to Jessica Errera, Rebecca Scherer, Annelise Roby, Chris Prestia, and the whole team at JR Agency, I bow to your expertise and enthusiasm. To Dana Isaacson, I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again—you are a book-whisperer. Thank you for reading early pages and gently, kindly, and firmly pushing the story in new directions.

To the Simon & Schuster Atria Team, you are remarkable. I am honored to be part of your swirling mass of creativity, whip-smart fun, and sheer story-smarts. To my editor, Trish Todd, I am so happy we found each other in this mad world. Your keen eye and wise input took this story to a new place, and I am grateful. To my publisher, Libby McGuire, thank you for bringing me into this creative fold and supporting this book. To the extraordinary Flora Lea team of Lindsay Sagnette, Dana Trocker, Lisa Sciambra, Megan Rudloff, Morgan Hoit, Dayna Johnson, Karlyn Hixson, Paige Lytle, Jade Hui, Sean Delone, and to the artist Laywan Kwan who designed my beloved cover—your imaginations and ideas create new worlds.

During the start of the pandemic Friends and Fiction began, and it has become a ballast in a sea of uncertainty these past years. As you see in the dedication, my cohosts are Mary Kay Andrews, Kristy Woodson Harvey, and Kristin Harmel (and Mary Alice Monroe, who helped found the group back in 2020!). One writing day in the mountains, I said to Mary Kay Andrews, “I want the fairy-tale world to be in the woodlands, and a secret.” She said, “Whisperwood.” This alone set the story off and running. In addition to the dearest friends you see on the screen, you don’t often see librarian Ron Block, managing director Meg Walker and AV guru Shaun Hettinger who have been keeping the oars in the water and humor in the chaos.

Meg Walker of Tandem Literary—our Jersey girl—has been my steadfast marketing guru for years now, and her upbeat enthusiasm, wise words, organizational skills, wicked sense of humor, and creative ideas are a true force of nature. Judy Collins keeps my website tip-top and my newsletter coming. Her attention to detail is astounding—I am grateful!

The arrow of these acknowledgements is also aimed straight at my author pals who told me, “Of course you can do this,” who believed and listened and played character-psychoanalyst with me. To those whose words of advice are exemplified in the lives they lead: ones of integrity, honesty, and vulnerability. You know who you are, and I am grateful and would not and could not do this without you. To Paula McLain, I don’t know how I could muddle through the sloggy parts without you. To Kristin Hannah, who kept me off the ledge more than a few times as I made huge changes.

In addition, I would be remiss not to bow to the authors I admire so much who supported this novel with their blurbs, time, and energy before the novel was released: to Christina Baker Kline, Jamie Ford, Sarah Penner, Sadequa Johnson, Fiona Davis, Janet Skeslian Charles, and Chris Bohjalian.

To my dearest friends, to those who listen about an imaginary world and still nod their heads with interest. I love you all. Madly.

To all those behind the scenes who opened their heart and life to me when I needed interviews, tours or information. To Jan Pardy, the extraordinary child evacuee who let me into her private world, and her niece Jane Pennell. To Tim Byars the London antiquarian bookseller who never tired of my questions or my handling of his precious books. To my tour guide Tabby Lucas who took me through the magical world of the real Binsey and shared my fascination with Saint Frideswide, leading me to her shrine. To the tour guide in London—Ann Marie—for traipsing through gardens and libraries and book shops while regaling me with stories of lost lore. I am so grateful to all of you. This book would be a different book without you.

And to you, the ones for whom I write: the readers, librarians, booksellers, bloggers, podcasters, and the entire literary community. This book is for you.

To Pat Henry, Meagan, Evan, Bridgette and Beatrix Rock, Thomas Henry and Rusk Henry, to my extended family, all of you. To Bonnie and George Callahan, who have supported every word I’ve written whether those words deserve it or not, and my sisters, Barbi Burris and Jeannie Cunnion, the same. I love you to all the moons and back—thank you for putting up with me while I live half in and half out of two worlds. I am yours.