With special thanks to:

The Miss America Pageant and staff in Atlantic City and the former Miss Americas and contestants who shared their experiences.

Gary Bradley, for the technical assistance and many other kindnesses. Sandra Scoppettone, for generously reading. Dr. Robert Albo, for the magic. Ellen Danna, Nathalie Dupree, and Barbara and Jeff Malm, for opening their homes. Cheryl Sullivan, for the Atlantic City tour. Chris Wiltz, for putting me on to the loup-garou.

Frank Deford’s There She Is was an invaluable source, as were John McPhee on the Pine Barrens and Ginie Polo Sayles’s How to Win Pageants.

Thanks to Meg Parsont and all the others at Pocket Books who shepherd my work along, and to Johanna Tani for her eagle eye.

And as always, thank you, Jane. Love you, Harvey.