Acknowledgements

When I made the leap from writing nonfiction to fiction, many mentors and supporters cushioned the landing and kept me moving forward. I am fortunate to have not one, but two long-time writers groups who provide encouragement, inspiration, and thoughtful feedback. Also levity and good company, which the otherwise solitary writer needs. From my “Saturday” group, thanks to Keith Hood, Amy Gustine, Jeanne Sirotkin Haines, Danielle Lavaque-Manty, Lori Eaten, Sonja Srinivasan, Paul Many, Cathy Mellett, Marni Hochman, Kevin Breen, and Deepak Singh, and others over the years. My everlasting gratitude goes to the “Sunday” group who stayed with me from the first draft through the final version of On the Shore. Clasped hands go to Danielle (again), Janet Gilsdorf, Marty Calvert, Cynthia Jalinski, Jane Johnson, and Margaret Nesse.

Family and friends are the cheerleaders who urge me on after every setback (most writers can paper the walls of a mansion with rejection slips) and make me feel worthy of each success. The greatest thanks goes to my daughter Rebecca Epstein, who is and always will be my best creative inspiration. Jerry Gardner is a one-man chorus of encouragement. Other kith and kin who have reinforced the value of gluing my butt to the chair to keep writing are my brother Joel Savishinsky, late aunt Charlotte Bettinger, cousins Joy Bader and Pam Alson, and friends Terry Alexander and Lynn Liben. To the rest of you, too numerous to mention, please know how much I treasure your support.

Finally, my thanks and appreciation to Vine Leaves Press, beginning with Peter Snell on the acquisitions team, who was the manuscript’s first fan, and Jessica Bell who accepted the book and dressed it in style before it went out the door. Editor Dawn Ius was enthusiastic, intelligent, curious, and thorough. Best of all, she taught me important lessons about craft. There’s a line in the book, which I attributed to an Irish grandmother, but actually came from my Yiddish grandmother. Whenever my bubbe learned something new, she would say, “I’m glad I didn’t die yesterday or I wouldn’t have known that.” To all my readers, I hope you feel that way when you finish On The Shore.