My thanks to:
Susan Mallery, a wonderful mentor, whose advice and generosity made all the difference.
My brilliant editor, Amy Pierpont, who makes me do the best work of which I am capable (damn her!).
My agent, Irene Goodman, who believed in me from the beginning and introduced me to The Godfather.
Megan McKeever, who never once hung up on me on the five thousand occasions that I called to ask really stupid questions about the publication process.
Barbara Ankrum, who encouraged me through a long and scary first draft and made sure I got enough protein along the way.
The “La-La Sisterhood”: Chandra, Corinne, Doris, Teresa, Valerie, and Julie. I probably could write a book without taking time out every week to gossip, complain, and eat too much cheese…but why would I?
The Majewski family, who helped me “research” bar-hopping in the North Woods.
The Minnesota natives, Catherine Johnson and Jason Hein, who taught me everything I know about hot-dish, hockey, and what to wear when it’s thirty-five degrees below zero.
And, of course, the LBC, who is better than Kerry Wood and Russell Crowe put together.