To Carol Allen (aka Bossy Little Sis), my person since the day you were born. Fortunately, Mom gave you her acerbic wit, eagle eyes, and photographic memory, and I’m the blessed beneficiary. Endless thanks for recalling the details I didn’t, for injecting your smashing spin on the mayhem, and for your “I’m so sorry, it’s just not good enough yet” annoyances. Every writer should be so charmed with the stubbornness and years it takes to gain your approval. Thankfully, you’re the biggest-hearted person I know. And that husband of yours? So many of the blessings I’ve experienced came through brother Bill (Allen)! To quote Dad, I’m the luckiest.
Betsy Rapoport (aka Best Editor of All-Time). If Carol and I could choose a sister, just think—the three of us could argue about storylines in the same house! Lol. More cooks in the kitchen! From the time I sent you 600 pages of rambles in 2004 to now, you’ve been my publishing soulmate, holding my heart and my words in your loving, darling-killing hands. Bless you for honoring my naiveté and grandiosity. Seeing as how I wasn’t willing to do what you did and work desk-to-desk with publishing greats in Manhattan all those years, what a gift it’s been to receive your endless patience, good humor, and dedicated mentorship. I’d never have the career I have if it weren’t for your confidence and care. Thank you for always making me better. “I love you” doesn’t half cut it.
We writers are nearly all too close to our stories to be objective, hence why we need help! We ache to find our publishing Dream Teams, like my lovable group of ride-or-dies—including my agent, Rachel Ekstrom at Folio Literary Management. Sister, you found the missing format piece of the book puzzle that eluded us all, bringing, finally, thousands of hours of work together. After brainstorming with some of the most beloved agents in the biz—they know who they are, and I cherish each one of them!—it was your vision that made the difference. And to have your tree-hugging heart expand my world with your connections at BenBella—wow!
BenBella, you’re a dream. Rachel and I say it all the time: We cannot believe how ON IT y’all are. Is that how things go down in Texas? From the speed with which you designed ten gorgeous book covers to choose from (how?) to your timely and thorough detail, combined with your eco-vision (FSC paper for the win!), we’re consistently blown away. I’m so grateful you found me, Glenn Yeffeth—and that you’ve brought together this powerhouse team to whom I bow down, including: Sarah Avinger, Sarah Beck, Ross Burlingame, Jennifer Canzoneri, Morgan Carr, Aaron Edmiston, Aida Herrera, Alicia Kania, Adrienne Lang, Monica Lowry, Dayna Lupica, Raquel Moreno, Susan Welte, Alyn Wallace, Tanya Wardell, and Vy Tran.
Dearest Vy. I’ve written for a lot of publishers, but our alliance is the one that most makes me cheer at my desk. Every time you send me an email, I know it will make my day. Your edits are world-class, and this book is far better for your vision. Thank you for choosing me (and not killing my word count!). I hope this is just the beginning.
To my Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) family. YOU. It’s always been YOU, the tree-huggers whom I’ve long admired. Thank you for embracing my work and investing your lives to safeguard healthy forests—so we may all live more beautifully. I cherish all of you, starting with Lou Raiola, Chris McLaren, Maggie Abel, Jenna Mueller, and Aubrey McCormick.
Van Jones told me that writing a book is a team sport. You don’t say. So many team players have been invaluable. Matthew Tower and Aditi Khorana, my heaven-sent brainstorming VIPs. From our calls and lunches in Carmel, Matthew, to those three days in a hotel in West Hollywood, Aditi, where you read through 2,000 pages of podcast transcripts to help me wrangle my first actual outline in 2018, no amount of thanks can suffice.
Guru Singh. I simply cannot. This book is a testament to my deep and abiding admiration. Thank you for your prophecy and your belief. It’s inspired my every move. Ditto to you, Paul Williams—my life-changer. Watching you write hit songs in five minutes in your kitchen was magic. And my “Uncle” Chuck Sailor (and Barbara George!), my first author role model—you made writing and publishing feel real because, for you, they were! Kay Sprinkel Grace, your endless love and powerful female role modeling inspire me still. Sue Brodie, I worship you, Mama.
To Meredith, Carrie-Anne, and Janet. (No spoilers; last names are for storylines.) You three beauties have taught me more about femininity, perseverance, fame, focus, and what success and friendship really are than I can articulate. Endless love to you, sisters. Danielle LaPorte. For two solo players, we’ve had one hell of a creative partnership. From meeting at that café in Santa Fe in our muddy boots before either of us was published to now, I love what we started together and how you’ve helped me ride without training wheels, never far from reach.
To my sweet Bay Area family. LOVE you so. To my Los Altos crew, how blessed we were to grow up where and when we did. I heart you, even those who took a little heat in a few of these pages. We were young, it was funny, and I hope you feel my heart. Joe Parente, to me, you’ll always be the writer of the two of us. Pat Johnson and Kathleen Feigelman, I miss you! Ditto to Gina, Sally, Missy, Margot, Kathi, Lisa, Carol, Diana, and so many others. I’ll hug you this fall at the reunion that John won’t let me miss.
To every “Carmelie” retreat participant who’s listened to and offered feedback on pieces in this book at lunches and dinners over the years, I thank God for you! (Mama needed permission and feedback as much as anyone!) I was keeping track to name you here, but it got ridiculous. Too much gratitude for a few sheets of paper. Forgive me and please know that your support has meant everything, and I work every day to be worthy of you.
Thank you to every author who’s been on my Beautiful Writers Podcast. You light the way. (Due to contractual obligations, a few guests couldn’t join us on these pages. If you’re missing them, revisit their episodes or their beautiful books!) Thank you to all of my interviewees for your kindness and, in many cases, friendship. There are waaaay too many to list here (and, honestly, you’re all my favorite in one way or another). But I want to offer a special early adopter shout-out to Dani Shapiro, Liz Gilbert, Steven Pressfield, and Martha Beck, who went above and beyond for the podcast and this book. To Tom Hanks, who approved his excerpts on location on the first day of a movie shoot! To Van Jones (and Gus!), who also granted their sweet support amidst a zillion other deadlines while traveling. (Writers be busy, y’all.) To Martha, my dearest Martha, comin’ in with terrific additional text to a last-minute ask while also getting ready to tape her Oprah Book Club appearance. And Ter . . . (Terry McMillan). I don’t know how I got so lucky and still pinch myself every time you call or pick up my calls.
Boundless love for my desk-jockey girlfriends. What a blessing it is, doing this writerly life with you. Even when we don’t talk, my days are far lovelier knowing you’re there. I could write a book of gratitude all about you, but word count (ugh): Amy Ahlers, Heide Banks, Laura Belgray, Samantha Bennett, Janet Bertolus, Rhonda Britten, Amanda Burkman, Chellie Campbell, Victoria Loveland-Coen, Anese Cavanaugh, Taylor Dayne, Sharon Van Epps, Jessica Fein, Ali Flint, Arielle Ford, Lauren Francis, Anne Friedman, Kim Fulcher, Barbara George, Leeza Gibbons, Jaclyn Goldis, Kelly Noonan Gores, Patti Hall, Robin Hammer, Allison Hill, Adrianne Hillman, Steph Jagger, Amelia Kinkade, Lisa Lai, Jillian Lauren, Tosca Lee, Janice MacLeod, Rowan Mangun, Natalie Kottke Masocco, Erica Mather, Julia Mathison, Abby Lowe McNeil, Laura Munson, Elizabeth Murray, Elise Museles, Justine Musk, Linda Northrup, Kate Northrup, Catherine Oxenberg, Nadia Prescher, Andrea Quinn, Nancy Rainford, Diane Reed, Dina Eastwood Ruiz, Bronwyn Saglimbeni, Tanmeet Sethi, Diane Danvers Simmons, Jenn Sutkowski, Maia Toll, Sarah Vermunt, Andrea Vieira, Leanne Wood, and Laura Yorke. To borrow a play out of Jenny Lawson’s playbook, if I forgot you, please add your name here: ________, and know that despite my mental hard drive being full (deadlines are intense!) I ADORE you!
Hugs to my Beautiful Writers Group members, some of whom have been with us since 2015, when Danielle and I started our group and podcast. The years have flown by, but you’ve made it a blast with your talent, commitment, hilarious quips, and unrelenting faith. Cheerleading each other on is LIFE. #FriendsDontLetFriendsWriteAlone
Jules! Beautiful Julia McPherson, of Innerspace Marketing. You’ve been the right arm of my business for the past seven years, and I’d be lost without you. Thank you for your can-do-everything, savvy BS detector, beautiful designs, and laughter. I love, love, love you. Lucie Balassone-Mosny: Jules and I kiss the ground upon which you walk. Talk about the best attitude! And dear Kevin Baker of Red Room Sound: Every podcast episode has been a joy with you at the editing bay. Bless you and your sunny disposition and nuts mind-blowing work ethic. To my Carmel home-away-from-home crew at the La Playa Hotel and the Wild Plum Café, including Sammy Ramos, Tracy Hunter, and Pamela Burns. You. Are. Beyond.
Larry. I honor that you’re shy and not one for the spotlight. So, I’ll keep this short except to say that whenever I prayed for “my guy,” I saw a strong, ethical man with a daughter with dark hair. You’re not going to get off that easy because our storyline comes into play in future stories. But for now, I’ll say that my family was too small with the death of my parents. You and Mom, your siblings and their families, and your beautiful Hayli (and Rick Baez, and our grandbabies Hazel and Hunt!!!) have given my heart a home.
Diane Chandler, Di Di. My girl. My alter-ego. The always-sunny, fun one who was out whoopin’ it up in college while I was back at our apartment or sorority house with a book. I will always live through your exploits and write about us—my way of putting my love for you in a forever time capsule. I still remember looking out my front window as a girl as you and your glamorous sisters walked to town, wishing I was cool enough to be your friend. I felt that way as roommates at USC, and I’ll feel the same way into our nineties. It’s going too fast, baby. But we’ve surely got time, as in lifetimes.
To Tosh, my fiery, fabulous, soulmate kid. You, your dad (hey, Jesse James!), and I came in wired differently. But even when we diametrically disagree, I appreciate your passion and always feel your heart. There’s no greater joy in my life than hearing you call me Mom. (Or “Maaa! You got any food up in this bitch?!”) As my dad said to me, “Thank you so much for choosing me this time around.” You’re the light of my life, T.
To my forever Angels, missyouloveyoualwaysandforever: Thomas One Wolf, Grampa Pete Concha, Joanne and Al Tisch, Gram Marian Tisch, Marilyn Traynor, Vy Metter, Etta Sivertsen, and Miss Merry Fuzz Buckets, who was at my feet or in my lap as I wrote many of these pages.
And to you, my beautiful readers and fellow tree-hugging dreamers. I love you. I feel you. I am you. Write on. xo