Acknowledgments

I’ve got to start here with my good friend and brilliant editor at Kensington Books, John Scognamiglio. Thank you, John, for the inspiration, guidance and pep talks for the past twenty-three books. You’re the best. And here’s a great big thank-you to the terrific team at Kensington Books—with a special shout-out to art director Louis Malcangi for the gorgeous cover art!

A huge thank-you to my agent, John Talbot, and the team at The Talbot Fortune Agency.

Many thanks also to my marvelous writers’ group: David Massengill, Sasha Im, Colin McArthur and Garth Stein. They were exposed to portions of this book in early draft form and always came up with great suggestions for improvement—whether I wanted to listen or not.

And speaking of writers who have always been there for me, I need to thank again my old Seattle 7 Writer pals, especially Dave Boling, Erica Bauermeister, Terry Brooks, Lynn Brunelle, Carol Cassella, Robert Dugoni, Bridget Foley, Laurie Frankel, Elizabeth George, Mike Lawson, Suzanne Selfors, Jennie Shortridge, Stephen Susco, and Susan Wiggs.

I’m also grateful to my proofreader and editor extraordinaire, Cathy Johnson.

And here’s a special shout-out to the folks at ReaderLink Distribution Services. Without you, I’m nothing!

I’d also like the thank the usual suspects (along with a few new names), who have always been incredibly supportive: Dan Annear and Chuck Rank, Jeff Ayers, Ben Bauermeister, Dante and Pattie Bellini, A Book for All Seasons, the Book Stall, Amanda Brooks, Judine Brooks, George Camper and Shane White, Barb and John Cegielski, Barb and Jim Church, Marti Converse, Anna Cottle and Mary Alice Kier, Paul Dwoskin, Eagle Harbor Books, Elliott Bay Book Company, Margaret Freeman, Matt Gani, the Girls Gone Wild Reading Books, Cate Goethals and Tom Goodwin, Bob and Dana Gold, Pennie Clark Ianniciello, Island Books, Deborah Kamen and Sarah Levin-Richardson, the Kelly Family, Elizabeth Kinsella, David Korabik, Stafford Lombard, Susan London, Roberta Miner, Dan Monda, Deborah Neff, my terrific pals from Sacred Heart School, Mike Sack and John Saul, Eva Marie Saint, the cool gang at Shelf Awareness, John Simmons and Scott Hulet, Roseann Stella, George and Sheila Stydahar, and Marc Von Borstel.

A special thank-you to my high school Latin teacher, who turned out to be a friend for life, Tom Forrer (1944–2022).

And finally, thanks so much to my wonderful siblings and their families. Adele, Mary Lou, Cathy, Bill and Joan . . . I’m so lucky to be your bro.