Most things start with the help and kindness of a friend, and with this book the friend was Dean Kehler. I then met Jane Stine, who I would happily dine with at Periyali any day of the week. After Jane came Susan Lurie, our amazing Susan Lurie! Susan who makes the work stronger and the process great fun. Kevin O’Connor came along soon after that, and thank goodness both for his introduction to Julie Schaper and the wonderful team at Consortium as well as to Stacey Ashton. Stacey makes more happen in an hour than I do in a week and I hope never to be without her. Then to Kate Liebman who was interwoven throughout this, doing an unprecedented number of illustrations that I think are among the most beautiful images for any book I’ve ever seen. To Bailey Carr for our favorite hours each week. To Debra Drodvillo, Jill Vinitsky, Suzy Jurist and Jacques LeMaitre who make the package pretty. To Lauren Wohl, Deb Shapiro, Kate Lied, Wiley Saichek and Mary McAveney who teach me all the most important things and then help me do them. To Lisette Farah, Nina Passero and Joe Gervasi who keep it all running.
And then to our writers’ room. A thanks like no other. To Tommy Fagin, Sarah Fieber, Rumur Dowling, Danai Kadzere and Carl Cota-Robles. I like to create, but I love to collaborate, and you make this work what it is. I hope over time I can give back to each of you even half of what I have received. Your series’ are next.
Then of course, as with all stories, there are the ones who do the really heavy lifting, the family and friends. Leo, Claire, Nina, Katie, Blair, Stella, Emma, Kelley, Olivia, Mack, JT, Lee, Mom and Dad. Lisa, Michael, Barbara, Michael, Marc. Jess, Lex, Erin and Philip. Thank you for being where I go when it’s good and also when it’s bad.
And then lastly, though of course he is also the beginning and the middle and everything in between, my thanks to David.
Thank you, so much, to all of you.