Books have no life without readers and I’m deeply grateful for the incredible early readers of this novel: My agent Brettne Bloom, who knows how I feel about her, and my wonderful editor Andrea Walker. I am blessed with their intelligence and insight.
Thank you also to my longtime writing partners, Lindsey Lee Johnson, Kevinne Moran, and Rita Michelle Pogue. Nine years running, they are always right. Thanks to Danya Bush, who read more permutations of June and James than anyone else. And to my dad David Johnson, who read early drafts and lent his sharp editorial eye.
In preparation to write this novel I read a lot about living in space and am particularly indebted to two memoirs: Diary of a Cosmonaut: 211 Days in Space by Valentin Lebedev and Endurance: My Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery by Scott Kelly. I could not have written this book without Space Camp and the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, where I gained hands-on experience with the equipment and technology I describe in this book. A special thank you to Erin “Clover” Shay and the members of Pioneer Team.
Thank you also to: Everyone at Random House, most especially Emma Caruso, who is always behind the scenes getting things done. Everyone at Transworld, including my U.K. editor Jane Lawson and Alice Youell. Everyone at The Book Group, with extra gratitude to Hallie Schaeffer, who was a perceptive early reader. Jenny Meyer and Heidi Gall at Jenny Meyer Literary. Jason Richman and Nora Henrie at United Talent Agency.
Corporeal Writing, Lidia Yuknavitch, and Domi Shoemaker. Daniel Torday, Courtney Sullivan, Eowyn Ivey, and Danya Kukafka. Grass Roots Books and Music, The Book Bin, and the Corvallis Public Library. Everyone at Tried and True Coffee.
Perpetual gratitude to:
My husband, Kevin Day, who always supports me, and who helped me keep writing even in the midst of a pandemic. My children, Bennett and Sullivan. Our talented caregiver Camille Carrington. And of course my amazing mom, Jean Johnson.