ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ENGLISH NEEDS A BETTER WORD than gratitude to express my deep appreciation for my editor Hilary Black. There are editors; then there is Hilary, who had my back while I wrote and thought and rewrote and ate too many artisanal donut holes (I live in Portland) and developed an eye twitch and emailed like a lunatic. She is sui generis. Allyson Johnson, project editor, also deserves a big raise and a week off. Make that two. Thank you to everyone else at National Geographic: Melissa Farris, Nicole Miller, Ann Day, Kelly Forsythe, Daneen Goodwin, and Jessie Chirico. Judith Klein, thank you for the herculean task of manuscript wrangling. Kimberly Glyder, your glorious illustrations make my heart sing.

I am indebted to David Forrer for his endless faith in me. Also at Inkwell: Kim Witherspoon, Richard Pine, Michael Carlisle, Nathaniel Jacks, and Corinne Sullivan.

Writers of Renown, thank you for listening to me talk about “my women” over the years: Allison Frost, Angie Muresan, Deb Stone, Colleen Strohm, Dan Berne, Peter Wallace, Laura Wood, Debbie Guyol (thank you, too, for your razor-sharp copyediting eye). Danna Schaeffer, I owe you a year’s worth of kir royales for your sage advice and sharp observations. Deb Nies and Melea Seward, #thankyou, #whatwo­uldIdo­witho­utyou?

To the Collioure crew, merci bien to James Allen, Candace King, Jen Obermeyer, Wayne Obermeyer, Scott Hornyak, Jorge Argonz, Dan Berne, Aliza Bethlahmy, Kathy Budas, and Randy Rollison, for your company and good cheer during crunch time. Time for an aperitif.

To Kim Dower, dear friend, your love, encouragement have buoyed me since our lemon bread days. Words can’t convey my appreciation.

Finally, to Jerrod Allen, the Man of the House, and Fiona, my little tomato: Thank you for being my people.