My boundless, heartswollen, jumping-up-and-down thanks to:
My teachers, who are never not with me when I write: Michelle Latiolais, Ron Carlson, Geoffrey Wolff, Christine Schutt, Brad Watson, Amy Gerstler, Doug Anderson and Jackie Levering-Sullivan.
My editor, Sarah McGrath, whose insights opened this novel up. Thank you for taking such ridiculously good care of my work.
PJ Mark, who is always exactly the person I want on the other end of a draft (and a question and a joke and an idea, etc., etc.) and to Marya Spence for smarts and welcome.
Matt Sumell, Michael Andreason, Marisa Matarazzo: mighty indeed.
Elliot Holt for being a gatherer of writers, just when I most needed it.
Everyone at Riverhead, especially: Claire McGinnis and Katie Freeman (!!), Geoff Kloske, Danya Kukafka, Kate Stark, Jynne Martin, and Glory Plata.
Glenn Schaeffer, the International Center for Writing and Translation at UC Irvine, the Squaw Valley Community of Writers, the Tin House Writers’ Conference, the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, the Sewanee Writers’ Conference for generous and much appreciated support.
Jon Davis and the faculty and students at Institute of American Indian Arts for infusing my year with wisdom, humor, stories and conversations about stories.
Several books were especially helpful in the writing of this novel: Sailing Alone Around the World by Joshua Slocum, Class: A Guide Through the American Status System by Paul Fussell and Old Money by Nelson W. Aldrich, Jr.
The Ragdale Foundation, for continuing to be a place where art is made.
My unimaginably great family: my parents for forever-faith, my dear sister, my amazing in-laws, my uncles and aunts and cousins and cousin-lets.
My friends, especially the lifelong variety: Melissa McNeely, Phoebe Waldendziak, Kari Hennigan, Byron Thayer, Ashby Lankford, Lauren Coleman and Margaux Sanchez.
Teo: for every mega-good thing you do every day forever, whoa.
Clay: for providing gorgeous, unflagging gusto.
Prairie: you were my inside companion while I finished this book and I feel sure that you made magic happen. This one is for and because of you, Miss Lemon Pie.