I would like to extend my deepest thanks to the following for their help, support, and encouragement while I wrote this book. Without them, it would not have been possible.

My editor, the excellent Kara Cesare, and the whole team at Random House.

My agent, the outstanding Richard Pine.

My friends, who’ve stood by me through the years: Dan Boucher, Carlos Camacho, Joelle Charbonneau, John Dul, Jamie Freveletti, Keir Graff, Kristy Claiborne Graves, Tana Hall, Nick Hawkins, Dermot Hollingsworth, Amanda Hurford, Richard Hurford, Jon Jordan, Ruth Jordan, Martyn James Lewis, Rebecca Makkai, Dan Malmon, Kate Hackbarth Malmon, Carrie Medders, Philippa Morgan, Erica Ruth Neubauer, Gunther Neumann, Ayo Onatade, Denise Pascoe, Wray Pascoe, Dani Patarazzi, Javier Ramirez, David Reith, Sharon Reith, Beth Renaldi, Marc Rightley, Melissa Rightley, Renee Rosen, Kelli Stanley, and Brian Wilson.

Brendan Vaughan.

Everyone at The Globe Pub, Chicago.

Everyone from Fish Creek Ranch Preserve, Wyoming.

Jane and Jim Grant.

Ruth Grant.

Katharine Grant.

Jess Grant.

Alexander Tyska.

Stacie Gutting.

And last on the list, but first in my heart—Tasha. Everything, always…

---

—

I’d also like to extend extra-special thanks to Ruth Troyanek for generously bidding on a character name which she dedicated to her mother—the real Patricia Lee Spangler—in support of the wonderful Albany County Public Library.