Susan Golomb, for believing so passionately; Pamela Dorman, for helping me bring this story to a place where I feel truly at peace.
Lynn Buckley and Roseanne Serra, for the stunning cover; Jeramie Orton, Rebecca Marsh, Lindsay Prevette, Kate Stark, Andrea Schulz, Brian Tart, and the entire Viking Penguin team, for their relentless hard work and dedication in championing this book.
The Missouri Review, for publishing the short story that launched this novel. Michael Lowenthal, Celeste Ng, Lori Ostlund, Christina Thompson, Lisa Miller, Adam Stumacher, Jeanne Leiby, Brando Skyhorse, for aiding and abetting as I journeyed down my writerly path. The Grub Street Writing Center, for guidance; the Massachusetts Cultural Council, for funding; Scrivener, for a tool I could not have worked without; When Words Count Retreat, for tranquility.
NAMI Cambridge/Middlesex, for moral support through difficult times. Dr. Xavier Amador, for allowing me to paraphrase a passage from his book, I Am Not Sick, I Don’t Need Help. Rachel Aviv, whose New Yorker article, “God Knows Where I Am,” still inspires me to write with more grace.
To learn more about mental illness, or to find support for individuals and families dealing with mental illness, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is an immensely helpful organization with local chapters in all fifty states (nami.org).
Frank, Clara, Jennifer, Sara S., Christine, Tobey, Beatriz, Jumbi, Karen S., Melissa G., Fredi, Jwyanza, the Ku-Schmitts, the Hsiung-Chais, the Standishers, Kat T., Chris C., Jade, Alison, Eran, Karine, for being early readers, consultants, and unwavering allies these past years.
My family. Close and far.
Dave, and my boys, for making everything possible.