I am grateful to so many for their help on this book: to Connie Brothers, without whose support the manuscript would not have left my computer; to my agent, Stephanie Cabot, amazing in all ways, who believed in the book and did not give up; to Anna Worrall and Ellen Goodson of The Gernert Company for their excellent comments and help; to my editor, Hannah Wood, whose outstanding insights and unflagging friendship have made this a better book; to Jan Weissmiller for her great kindness and generosity in getting the book into others’ hands; to my parents, Margaret and Guilford Collison, for their encouragement and respect for writing and books; to my inestimable early readers and book friends: Anne Collison Johnson, Janet Collison, John Collison, Paul Johnson, Diane Padilla, Patricia Page, Jylian Gustlin, Jim Harris, Pamella and Bud Nesbit, Peter Henriksen, Jennifer Vine, Michael Ham, and the Madeira Club; and throughout, to Scott Alkire, my partner in all things.