Acknowledgments

In this year of “we’re all in this together,” I feel so lucky to have had so many people willing to be Incognito with me. I am truly blessed. Special thanks to my friend and agent Jennifer Pooley. I probably sound like a broken record here in our fifth book together, but I can never thank you enough for believing from the beginning and making me believe, too, in more than just my stories, but that all the magic is possible. Here’s to the anchors that await!

To my editor Amy Acosta for your generous insights and friendly edits, and for being willing to sift through all these moving parts with me when my brain can’t take anymore. You’ve made this book so much stronger and I’ve valued and enjoyed your feedback.

To everyone at Entangled— Liz and Heather R. and Bree and Curtis and Stacy and Debbie and Riki and Aimee and Jessica and Meredith, thank you sticking with me and for the gorgeous cover and for being so generous with timelines as I navigated the ups and downs of this very strange pandemic year.

To Diane Samandi for making my first Hollywood dream come true. Thank you for giving me a chance—a starting place in an unexpected adventure. For always encouraging me and believing in me. Challenging me and making me think and grow. I will treasure our time together and though things changed this year, it’s not an ending. It’s a new beginning. Lunch (in person!) soon.

To my mom and dad, thank you for giving up sleep so I can have long stretches of time to spend in my head. I know the price of sleep and you are beyond generous. Thank you for always supporting me in whatever I do. And for making me go to UCLA when I wanted to go to fashion school. That worked out.

To Jason for giving me the garage night shift and for cooking me dinner and bringing me tea and putting the kids to bed. I wouldn’t dare dream this big without you.

To Cece and Lilah and Donovan for making me laugh and reminding me to be silly and for keeping me on my toes and in the present. You are what it’s all about.

And most of all to all the readers who have written asking for (and sometimes demanding) more of the story. I have loved all your notes and knowing you are out there has kept me going. When I’m writing I often feel that the story is fully formed in my mind, but just beyond my reach. It is only through sitting down to the blank screen and opening myself to the page that I begin to gain access. I feel like an archaeologist, chipping away at layer upon layer, writing and rewriting and blowing off the dust until the full story is revealed. I feel that stories come through me in this way, not from me, because they are meant for someone. They are not mine; they are yours. And it makes me so happy to know they are making it to you, the eyes meant to read it. Stay tuned… I’ll try to hurry with the next one.