Writing a book is a mostly solitary job, but getting it right, and then out into the world, takes the belief, hard work, and creativity of many people. To those people, I owe enthusiastic thanks and deep gratitude.
To my agent, Emmanuelle Morgen, who has incredible determination and dedication, more patience than I ever will, and who always pushes me to do my best.
To Leila Sales and Lynne Missen, my dream team of editors, whose intuition, instincts, and total commitment to the book have made it so much better than it could ever have been without them, and who have been so incredibly approachable and attentive.
To copyediter Laura Stiers, for her incredible attention to detail, and particularly for saving me from the typo that would have had Ingrid going to a “pubic school” instead of a “public school.”
To Janet Pascal for being another set of eyes during copyediting, and for sharing her expertise on the subject of opera.
To Theresa Evangelista and Lisa Jager, for coming up with the stunning U.S. and Canadian covers.
To the publicity, sales, and marketing people at Viking, especially Katie Quinn, and to Vikki VanSickle (publicity) and Liza Morrison (head of sales) and their teams at Penguin Random House Canada. The work you do is absolutely vital, and I am lucky to have you.
To all the sales reps who will be going around to stores with ARCs and catalogues, I know you have other books to promote too, so thank you in advance for time you give to mine.
To my foreign rights agent, Whitney Lee, for doing such an excellent job selling rights.
To my wonderful publishers Carlsen Forlag in Denmark, Piemme in Italy, and Gallimard in France. I can’t wait to see your editions of Everything Beautiful Is Not Ruined.
To Shaylyn Saville, for info on canoeing and camping, and Sue Saville, who sent me stunning photos from Shay’s trips.
To Gillian Stecyk, who helped me with information about vocal training, specific pieces of music, opera singers, and the world of opera.
To Stephanie Saville, my go-to person for insights on at-risk teens and addiction therapy, and always a person of deep wisdom.
To Brian Younge and my cousin Richard Younge for specifics about small airplanes and unconventional landing circumstances.
To Amanda Almeida for info on how high school plays are run these days.
To Alexander Galant, who came up with the name of the fictional school, Ayerton.
To the trusted readers who gave me feedback, or just let me talk through plot points at various stages, Bev Rosenbaum, Maureen McGowan, Jon Clinch, Caroline Leavitt, Adrienne Kress, Caitlin Sweet, Elizabeth Letts, Michael Wacholtz, Elyne Quan, and Madelyn Burt.
To my larger community of writing buddies, including those mentioned above, who make this whole thing less lonely, and often give behind-the-scenes support: Karen Dionne, Sachin Waikar, Keith Kronin, Renee Rosen, Lauren Baratz-Logsted, Joanne Levy, Eileen Cook, Martha Warboy, and the members of the Torkidlit group, plus the many friends I’ve made at Backspace.org.
To Mike Kleinberg, for his help in 1990, and Christine Thompson and my other teachers and Holy Trinity School—when you read the book, you’ll know why.
To the late Patricia Kern, whose stories about the opera world, told in bits and pieces over the years, seeped into my bones and took up residence, and whose passion, eloquence, and sense of humor, always inspired me.
To my parents, Cindy and Gary Ullman, for exposing me to so much opera and theater as a teenager, for helping me see so much of the world, for sending me on a certain camping trip, and for believing in me, even when they don’t always quite understand what I’m up to.
To the many awesome members of the Ullman, Saville, Younge, and Wacholtz families,including my dad, Brian Younge, and Jim and Beatrice Wacholtz, who continue to be such enthusiastic readers and supporters.
To my husband, Michael, for being my most passionate and stalwart supporter, cheerleader, butt-kicker. And my two smart, adorable, hilarious girls, T and S, who, along with Michael, shower me with love, and pull together to keep things running when I’m on a deadline. You are the loves of my life.
Thank you.