Writing, for me, is a waiting game. I go out to my little studio, light a fire in the wood-burning stove, turn on my computer, and stare at the screen. I switch the radio on. I switch it off. I fidget in my seat. And then, on the good days, I vanish for a while. The writing happens, and I am in it.
I’ve never written fiction before, and I have no way to explain the process. But my first thanks go to the characters—to Billie and Lulu, Sammy, Mitch, and Jake—who simply gave themselves to me.
My next thanks go to Susan Kamil. She has the extremely rare quality of the born editor: the ability to be simultaneously critical and encouraging. She falls in love with your characters. She is thinking about them even when you’re not. And she won’t let you stop until the book is as good as it can be. I couldn’t have written this book without her.
I also owe a deep debt of gratitude to my agent, Kathy Robbins. When I found myself abruptly out of work she said, “You’ve always said you wanted to write a novel. Now’s the time.” Then she took my hand and held it through the process, reading endless drafts.
Thanks to my husband, Michael Singer, and our son Nick. They endured endless dinners when I was not really with them, but wandering through the Timbers Mansion in my head.
The incomparable Ann Patchett read a draft and gave me thoughtful notes. I will never again forget the Rule of Chekhov. I hope the day we spent talking about the background of the book was as much fun for her as it was for me.
The MacDowell Colony offered me the perfect place to work on this book, and I am deeply grateful for the peace, time, support, and friendship that I always find when I am there.
I also want to thank: My assistant, Francesca Gilberti, who keeps track of my projects. Robin McKay and Maggie Ruggiero, gingerbread experts, who consulted on the cake. All the people at The Robbins Office—David Halpern, Louise Quayle, and especially Arielle Asher, who is always cheerful, enthusiastic, hopeful, and helpful. The wonderful team at Random House, starting with Gina Centrello, who named the book before it was even written. Sam Nicholson, Molly Turpin, Avideh Bashirrad. Thanks to Barbara Bachman, who did the lovely design. And I am indebted to the extraordinary copy editors, Loren Noveck and Kathy Lord, who pored over every word, untangling the chronology.
Finally, I want to thank the many food people who were the inspiration for this book. I’ve learned so much from the talented butchers, bakers, farmers, chocolatiers, and cheesemongers I’ve been fortunate enough to meet. And, of course, endless thanks to all the cooks. Feeding people is an act of generosity—I don’t think it is possible for a great cook to have a stingy soul—and I have done my best to honor that.