Writing a second book in the world of Stanley and Hazel was like traveling to a familiar place and hanging out with old friends … except that people were dying and the world was catching on fire. I’m grateful for good kombucha and dark chocolate to get me through the long nights, dodging Legion and prowling the streets of 1934 St. Louis on my keyboard.
It was a challenge to finish this book amid my college courses, job and being a mom, but I had a lot of support and love to keep me going.
Huge thanks to Jonathan Weyer, who helped create it all and gave me half his brain to use. Thanks to my kids and my huge family for their support as I devoted so much time to telling this story. To Katie Jarvis, and Jessika Stephens for reading early drafts and making it all seem possible and to my famous uncle Mike Guido for making me feel like a big deal. Also to my uncle Paul O’Connor who reads my stuff with enthusiasm and gave me Irish cred for Seamus and Peggy.
Thank you to my parents who love me and my writing despite any shortcomings. Special thanks to my sister Ali Durham who helped make my first book launch a blast. To my niece, Eden Durham, who is my Hazel and Colin Weyer for being the OG Stanley.
Forever grateful for Jennifer Jenkins, Margie Jordan, Lois Brown, Tahsha Wilson, and James Lewis, who are the best writing group ever.
A shout out to Georgia McBride and the Month9Books crew for helping me bring my vision to life, and adopting Stanley and Hazel into a good home.
I’m indebted to the works of Frank Capra and Cole Porter, and to the silver screen legends I loved to watch as I grew up.
Especially you, Clark Gable.