The idea for this book began with an article in Vanity Fair: “Coast to Toast” by Vanessa Grigoriadis. So, first and foremost, I want to thank other writers and researchers for opening my eyes and inspiring my work, not only in this instance, but in a thousand other ways.
Thank you to my agent, Barbara Poelle, the first person to believe in me, and the person who still has my back, even when I don’t realize it. A million thanks (at least) to my outstanding editor, Laurie Chittenden, for forcing me to dig deeper and always finding a fix for any problem. Thank you also to Lisa Bonvissuto for all that you do!
I’m so lucky to be a part of the St. Martin’s team. My covers and interior pages somehow keep getting better—thank you to Young Lim and Anna Gorovoy for wrapping this story in the loveliest of packages.
Heaps of gratitude to the world’s hardest-working, smartest, and kindest publicist, Katie Bassel, and the crack marketing team, especially Laura Clark and Lauren Friedlander. Thank you also to Sally Richardson and Pete Wolverton for your support, and to Sally for her contributions to this book.
Huge shout-out to the amazing Dr. Laura Schobitz Bauer for insight into what it’s like to work in the ER, more accurately known as the Emergency Department, as my character Bess rightly points out. Thank you to Kristin Lando Parker for the knitting facts, and forcing my characters to sometimes “drop a stitch.” Thank you also to Heather, Greg, and Julia Olson, for granting me use of Lala’s name and nickname.
I am extraordinarily grateful to my husband, Dennis Bilski, for countless things, including the correction of my golf-related errors, not to mention his innate ability to determine when I’m “on deadline” and therefore best left in my cave. Thank you to my brilliant and funny girls, to whom this book is dedicated. Some of my happiest memories are from the time we all spent together in a house on Baxter Road.
As always, thank you to my tremendously supportive parents, Tom and Laura Gable, who make me feel like more of a star than I could ever dream to be, and to my siblings, Lisa Gable Wheatley and Brian Gable, for the ongoing encouragement. Thanks also to Bill and Suzy Gable; I so appreciate your hand-selling my books.
One of the best things about going on a book tour is seeing friends countrywide. Special thanks to my Richmond and DC crew, especially Elaine Turville Kropp, Anna Dinwiddie Hatfield, Laura Schobitz Bauer (again!), and Caryn Parlee Simpkins, and to my North Carolina pals, specifically Martha Hurst Seaman. In San Diego and always, I have the unending warmth and support of Karen Freeman Landers and Lauren Gist. Dinners, Chargers games, spa days—you two are the greatest.
Finally, thank you to the readers who show up at my events, send kind e-mails, and in general remind me how lucky I am to have this career.