I have felt my agent Allison Hunter’s belief in this book, and me, at every step of the journey (which is truly saying something, as we took the scenic route). In addition to being smart as a whip, Allison is loyal, patient, supportive, and such excellent company that it is possible to meet her for a lunch that morphs into dinner with no idea of how the time has flown. Thank you, AH, for everything.
My extremely heartfelt thanks to my editor, Christine Kopprasch, who is as fiercely talented as she is kind. I am so very grateful to have been taken under your wing.
Flatiron Books is filled with first-rate professionals at the top of their games. Thank you to Maxine Charles, Samantha Zukergood, Jordan Forney, Nikkia Rivera, Katy Robitzski, Allyson Ryan, Donna Sinisgalli Noetzel, Bob Miller, Megan Lynch, Marlena Bittner, Gillian Redfearn, Lisa Amoroso, Morgan Mitchell, Keith Hayes, and everyone else there who contributed their expertise to The Neighbor’s Secret. Also, thank you to the incomparable Amy Einhorn.
I’m indebted to the following people for their efforts in championing the book: Kristina Moore at Anonymous Content, and Tanya Farrell and Kelly Cronin at Wunderkind. Thank you also to Natalie Edwards and the rest of the Janklow & Nesbit team, and Clare Mao for your early and insightful notes. An eternal thank-you to the lovely Kerry Donovan.
Thank you also to some of my favorite authors: Chandler Baker, Kimberly Belle, Michele Campbell, and Laura Hankin. Their willingness to read and blurb The Neighbor’s Secret was no small favor, as they are all busy crafting amazing novels of their own.
Maggie Shapiro’s donation to the wonderful Horizons program, which provides opportunities to the underserved students of Denver, earned her the right to lend her name to a character. Thank you, Maggie, for your generosity, and for letting me use your good name.
Thank you to Samantha Heller, who is always my first reader and usually my last, too, for the crash course in blood inheritance and for all your advice—both already given and not yet asked for. Thanks to Raj Bhattacharyya, Kannon Bhattacharyya, and Dashiell Bhattacharyya for valuable input on everything from fancy wines to character names to the layout of a middle-school party to “Starry Starry Night.” Thank you to Sue Ann Heller, for your unflagging enthusiasm.
Glen, Zoe, and Georgia, you are everything to me. There is no sufficient thank-you for all of your love and support.