ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Where, oh where, would I be without my family? I wouldn’t be a writer—that’s for sure. Whether I need somebody to do the grocery shopping or leave me alone for a weekend while I hammer out pages, my husband, my mom, and my children are infinitely supportive, even bringing me food and tea at the dining room table when I’m tearing my hair out over a manuscript. Thank you, my peeps. I love you all.

My brother Donald and his family—Jean, Emily, and Jill—continue to urge me on from afar, and one of these days I will definitely set a book in England so I can hang out in their glorious riverside brick farmhouse. I might have to set a few scenes in Ithaca, too, where my brother Phil plays any instrument with strings.

My wonderful extended family—all of you Cooksons, Boyles, Schneiders and Robinsons—gives me the confidence to believe in myself by believing in me. I’m proud to be one of you!

My agent, Richard Parks, has become family as well, after two decades of helping me usher books into the world. Thank you, dear man. I hope you know how much I adore you.

At New American Library, I’m blessed to have a fantastic team supporting the production of my books. Special thanks to my savvy whirlwind editor, Tracy Bernstein, whose knowledge of all things literary, academic, and Broadway knows no bounds and whose love of story is equal to mine. I am also blessed to have NAL publisher, Kara Welsh, in my corner, along with the best design, marketing, and publicity people in this crazy business. Thank you, all.

In addition to my in-house publishing team, I want to thank Rachel Tarlow Gul of Over the River Public Relations for her energetic efforts to find the best readers for my books. And there are many people I treasure in my writing community:

First among my writer-mom friends, I want to thank Susan Straight, Emily Ferrara, and Toby Neal, who all know and love Prince Edward Island as much as I do. I couldn’t have written this book without you keeping me company on my various writing retreats there. I also had the support of my caring neighbors on Prince Edward Island, who are always ready to share their stories: Bruce and Pat Craig, Wendell and Barbara Baker, David and Mary Mahar, the Jarvis family, and of course, Rusty and Linda at Elliot’s store—thank you for making my family feel so welcome on the island.

Other writers and editors have also been instrumental in helping me talk and think about my writing. A special shout-out especially to Kristin Bair O’Keeffe, Maddie Dawson, Elisabeth Elo, Ann Garvin, Rachael Herron, Terri Giuliano Long, Amy Sue Nathan, Jay Neugeboren, Carla Panciera, Sandi Kahn Shelton, Virginia Smith, Lorrie Thomson, and Sonja Yoerg for being in my corner. I see you waving those pom-poms! I also must thank Melanie Wold, who always seems to have an extra house on hand at the very moment when I need a writing sanctuary most and is so generous about sharing her spaces. And, last but not least, thank you to Brian Simpson, who is not only a fine hairstylist but also a great storyteller—one of his anecdotes made it into this book.

Finally, I wish to extend my sincerest gratitude to all of the bookstore owners and readers who continue to make this novelist’s dreams come true. Your support means everything to me.