Acknowledgments

Thanks!

To Bogey’s Books for the chair in the back where I wrote much of the book; to Doug Kauffman, Max Massey, and Mark Nemmers, who kept me on task (and baked me biscotti); to Stan Robinson, who sat in the chair next to me and wrote his own book as a model of how it’s done.

To Tom Stanton, proprietor of Holy City Art Glass, for his tour of the Holy City grounds; his information, pictures, and articles about the cult; and his general delightfulness.

To my tech advisors: Susan Groppi, Jason Stoddard, and the impeccable Ted Chiang.

To Gavin Grant and Richard Butner, for random wit and inspiration, some of which you’ll find right here in this book just as if it were my own.

To Susan Wiggs for the purloined letters.

To Jane Hamilton, Gail Tsukiyama, and Dorothy Allison, the wonder women, who provided early conceptual help, invaluable advice, and moral support, as did the very busy Sean Stewart, as did my daughter, Shannon; my son, Ryan; my daughter-in-law, Christy; and my husband, Hugh. Plus Berkeley.

To the usual suspects, my writing group, who helped doggedly through the middle bits and never got to see the end: especially Alan Elms, Debbie Smith, Sara Streich, Don Kochis, Clinton Lawrence, Ben Orlove, and Xander Cameron.

For helping with the book inside the book, the Rio Hondo regulars: Walter Jon Williams, Daniel Abraham, Eileen Gunn, Timmi Duchamp, Jay Lake, Geoff Landis, Mary Turzillo, Leslie What.

For helping with the not-as-final-as-I’d-hoped draft, the brilliant writers and readers Robb Forman Dew, Maureen McHugh, and Kelly Link. Each of you said something different to me, and all of it was stuff I needed to hear.

To the fabulous Marian Wood for help with absolutely everything, the wonderful Wendy Weil and the whole Weil Agency office, and the amazing Anna Jardine, who sweats the big and small stuff for me.

I am more grateful than I can ever say.