Envisioning the singular friendship of Mary McLeod Bethune and Eleanor Roosevelt was a rare, special, and challenging gift, one we hope touches the hearts and minds of our readers. It is an undertaking only possible with my partner-sister Victoria Christopher Murray at my side every step of the way, and I will be forever grateful for her generosity of spirit, brilliance, trust, and kindness.
My wondrous and ever-insightful agent, Laura Dail, helped shepherd this book into the world, and I am indebted to her unflagging support, as well as that of Katie Gisondi, who handles our translation rights. Immense thanks are also due to Kate Seaver, our lovely editor and executive editor for Berkley, who believed in the importance of Mary and Eleanor’s friendship from the beginning and encouraged us to persevere in uncovering their crucial story.
We are so appreciative to so many incredible people at Berkley and Penguin Random House: the former CEO of Penguin Random House US, Madeline McIntosh; the president of Penguin Publishing Group, Allison Dobson; the president of Putnam, Dutton, and Berkley, Ivan Held; the senior vice president and publisher of Dutton and Berkley, Christine Ball; the vice president and editor in chief at Berkley, Claire Zion; the vice president, deputy publisher, and director of marketing at Berkley, Jeanne-Marie Hudson; the vice president and publicity director at Berkley, Craig Burke; the senior vice president and executive creative director at Berkley, Anthony Ramondo; the senior designer for Berkley Art, Vikki Chu; the deputy director of marketing at Berkley, Jin Yu; marketing assistant at Berkley, Hillary Tacuri; marketing assistant at Berkley, Natalie Sellers; publicity manager at Berkley, Lauren Burnstein; publicity manager at Berkley, Danielle Keir; associate publicist at Berkley, Dache’ Rogers; executive managing editor at Berkley, Christine Legon; associate director of art and design for PPG Interior Design, Kristin del Rosario; senior production manager for PPG, Joi Walker; associate director of production editorial for PPG, Michelle Kasper; production editor at Berkley, Lindsey Tulloch; and editorial assistant at Berkley, Amanda Maurer. We are also immensely grateful to senior vice president and group sales director Lauren Monaco, director of imprint sales Jen Trzaska, and the amazing Penguin Publishing Group sales team.
So many supportive family members and friends have advocated for this book and my mission in general, but it is Jim, Jack, and Ben who deserve the most thanks. Only with their championship, inspiration, and understanding would this novel be possible.
But we know that it is the readers, librarians, and booksellers who deserve our utmost appreciation.