I am very grateful to my family: to my parents and eldest sister, who were reluctant to have private conversations and memories aired publicly but still supported, with immense generosity, my writing of this book; to my brother Scott, who gave me endless encouragement; and to my middle sister Lauren, who never failed to welcome my own efforts to write, and whose prose—in its sheer beauty—will always awe me and give me something to aim for. Deepest thanks as well to the entire Hoshino clan, who welcomed me in and taught me not just about Japan but about what it means to be family.
Without my editor, Sara Minnich Blackburn, this book would not exist. Her insight, wisdom, support, and encouragement got me through the writing of this memoir, but it also gave me something hopeful to work toward during dark times, so I am profoundly grateful to her both as a writer and a person. I still can’t believe my luck that I got to work with her. I also feel lucky to have had the chance to work with my agent, Rachel Sussman—my literary hockey mom!—not just for how she helped me as a new author navigate the world of publishing but for our fun conversations along the way. Thanks in addition to the entire team at Putnam that helped make these words an actual book. Without Eve Bridburg, I never would have found Rachel. I also want to recognize Dorian Karchmar: I so appreciate your kindness and your advice about agents when I was looking for representation. In addition, I’m grateful to KJ Dell’Antonia from the New York Times blog Motherlode, who was the first to invite me to tell parts of this story publicly.
So many friends helped me with the writing of this book. Jennifer Ivers, Mark Kaufman, and Sari Boren were incredible editors as well as unspeakably generous readers, as were Megan Sullivan, Jessica Goodfellow Ueno, Jodi Harmon, Peter Kreig, Lisa Theisen, Colleen Shiels, Susan Blumberg-Kason, Paul Morrison, Mary Hillis, Zoe Jenkins, Sasti Lavinia, Tracy Nishizaka, and Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich from Grub Street Boston. Tim Huggins helped immeasurably not just as a friend but also with advice about publishing, publicity, and bookselling, as did Michael Lowenthal, Jennifer Haigh, Elyssa East, Kaitlin Solimine, Elizabeth Mckenzie, Elizabeth Searle, Don Lee, Bret Anthony Johnston, Ethan Gilsdorf, Leza Lowitz, Alison Lobron, Linda Schossberg, and Heidi Durrow.
I offer great thanks to the authors who have read over the years at Four Stories, not just for your generosity in sharing your work at the events but for all you’ve taught me about writing and reading narratives that transport. As a group, you’ve moved, inspired, and wowed me.
I’m also fortunate to have gotten great support from the instructors and students in my Mediabistro courses. Jill Rothenberg and Kelly McMasters, I don’t believe I could have written a successful proposal without your guidance! Megan Parks, Scott Rodbro, Robert Henderson, Karla Bruning, Marin Heinritz, John Dillon, Isabelle Marinov, Pete Evanow, and the rest of the Mediabistro crew, I’m so glad I got my start on this book with all of you.
Finally, I want to thank Toru, although in so many ways I don’t properly have the words to do so, and Elli, who gave me a happier ending than I ever dared imagine.