This novel was more than twenty years in the making, so there are many people to thank.
I’m forever indebted to Victress Literary and my rock star of an agent, Lizz Nagle, who believed in the power of this story and never gave up. When founding agent Shannon Orso passed in 2021, Lizz assumed an overwhelming responsibility. (You make Shan proud every day, Lizz.) Shannon was a junior agent at the Eric Ruben Agency before it closed, so a big thank-you to Eric for signing me initially.
I’m thrilled this novel found a home at St. Martin’s Press and grateful to brilliant editor and amazing human Brigitte Dale, who fell in love with Allina’s story and believed in my writing from the start. Brigitte steered me through the process with so much patience and kindness, and her thoughtful suggestions and questions, particularly about the characters of Karl, Rilla, and Berta, led to a much better book. Thank you, also, to Melissa Kravitz for input on German and Jewish culture. Lisa Davis had the thankless task of helping fix my comma issues (among many others). Her meticulous copy edits helped make this book the best it could possibly be. Finally, to the exceptional team at St. Martin’s Press responsible for the production and marketing of this novel—thank you for your dedication in bringing Allina’s story to readers.
I’m also grateful to dozens of friends, family, beta readers, and writing group partners who’ve asked about my research and manuscript over the years.
Elizabeth Almann read early chapters at a coffeehouse more than twenty years ago and told me to continue my research because I “had something interesting there,” so I did. Years later and shortly before his death, Joseph Kosler reminded me the clock was ticking and to “finish that damn book,” so I did. Special thanks to my mother and Claudia Cabrera, early beta readers who asked difficult questions in need of answering; my brother, Andre, and our Piasentini, Sorge, and Knepp cousins; the McHugh and Cabibo clans; and members of the Journey Within Church and the Inner Spiritual Center Organization. A huge shout-out goes to the R.M.A. Dynamic Duo, Lynn McHugh and Pat Sayers, for celebrating every milestone.
I’m also grateful for coworkers across three careers for their support—my DECA, ASU, and ADE friends, Verisk Analytics colleagues, and tribe at Imperfect Foods. And to Paul Kimball and Deb Meyer, both superb writers and editors, during my time at Verisk and after—please know that you helped me grow as a writer.
Two writing groups in the East Valley reviewed chapters and kept me going when I’d nearly lost faith, so this book wouldn’t have happened without their input and friendship: Jackie McBride, Peggy Alfano, Mary Schenten, Christine Dixon, Barbara Duell, Angela Stephens, Bren Williams, Jill Sandstedt, Kacey Shea, Jennifer Valencia, Olivia Savage, Raxha Bhagdev, and Lisa Johnson LeCarre. To my fellow Victress Literary authors and team members, past and present—and Alisha West, Steph Scott, Jen Nielsen, Joshua Corneil, Robyn Dabney, Deena Remiel, Claire Bethke, Laura Reeves, Jennifer Della’Zanna, and Melissa Sutton Gaines in particular—your support means more than you know.
Finally, while Romance Writers of America is an organization for romance writers, the former Desert Rose chapter of RWA in Phoenix welcomed a historical fiction author who wanted to connect with others back in 2015. This was a game changer because I met my first agent at a conference they sponsored two years later. Thanks to those members for their kindness and continued interest, and for hosting events that taught me how to pitch my work.