Thanks to Ellen Levine, as smart and kind an agent as any writer could hope for.
To my editor, Kelli Fillingim, whose enthusiasm brought this book to print and whose wise editing enriched it.
To Susan Byrnes, Julie Fingersh, Paul Greenberg, Loren Miller, and Greg Sax for their insightful critiques and lifelong friendship.
To Bryan Steiner, who not only helped inspire this story but made life fun during the writing of it.
To my family, who have provided me with endless amounts of love and hilarity. Most of all, thanks to my parents, Patti and Al Shapiro, who dedicated their lives to my siblings and me and always made us feel it was their privilege to do it.