I would like to thank: Tony Wolk, my thesis advisor, for his patience and unswerving optimism; Michelle McCann, Diana Abu-Jaber and Barbara Ruben for joining the thesis committee; Danielle Schneider, Sasha Sterner, Arianna Strong and Samantha Thompson, my student readers, for their time, feedback and willingness to be guinea pigs; Connie Barr, Kelly Garrett, Marla Bowie LePley, Laura Marshall and Lisa Nowak, my writing group members, who gave me consistent feedback and believed in the big picture; John and Andrea Struyk, Angela Struyk-Huyer, Catrina Huyer and Alana Miner for feedback throughout the writing process; Eric, Quinten and Eli for their patience and unfaltering support. And finally, thank you to Sarah Harvey, my editor at Orca Book Publishers, who believed in the project and whose guidance was invaluable.