Being a first novel, this work needed more help than maybe another book would have, and so I have many people to thank. First is my wife, Diane, who is always my closest confidante and bearer of all news and views during dreaming, writing, rewriting, selling, and then even more rewriting. She was more than helpful in many early morning talks and late night walks. Then of course my truly special daughter Molly, the very first to read the book once I had written it and who gave notes along with Diane. Also, my good friend Peter Thompson, the former newspaper editor and historian who lives in London and has walked many, many of these streets with me for hours at a time, and was an early reader as well a strong sounding board. Also thanks to the American ex-pat novelist and rabble-rouser, London-based Christina Robert Thompson, who read early and gave good feedback as well.
There’s a huge debt of gratitude to my good pal from Detroit, Mitch Albom, another early reader, a solid friend along the way and, in so many aspects, a bright spot on the horizon always worth heading for. The biggest debt is probably to David Gernert, my agent who picked Keep Calm from a pile and made it, with his support and expertise, a real book. I can’t fully express what a treat it’s been to have an agent with his level of experience and insight behind me.
Much thanks of course to Steve Rubin and everyone at Henry Holt who bought the book and believed in it right away, and of course the book’s editor, Michael Signorelli, who taught me a lot about how much fruit can be harvested from having a first-class editor to rely on. This book went through so many changes once David, Steve, and Michael came on board that it would be unfair not to mention how much they have each added and, in fact, literally transformed the work.
Thanks are also in order for Adam Levine at Verve, my agent and friend, Alex Gartner, my longtime producing pal, and Chuck Roven at Atlas films. A shout-out as well to Toby Emmerich at New Line Cinema who was also an early reader and threw in some good threads that the story needed. Much love needs to be showered on my two best friends Clay Tatum and Dr. Kevin Sands and also my longtime buddy Max Kennedy, all who have helped and backed me in so many ways, for so many years, as have my dear friends Olugbemiga Idowu, Rachel Zimmerman Leonard, and Shauna Roberston Norton and my brothers Gary, Lee, and Jack, all who I love so much.
Finally thanks to Judy Trumbull Binder, my sweet, nutty, funny, mother, Eli and Edye Broad, my amazing godparents, who have been so warm to me for as long as I have memory. To Jeanne Binder, my wonderful and not at all wicked stepmother, who first taught me the value of a good book, and also to my sister Kristen Binder Stevens and her husband, Stan, all the above for supporting me for an entire lifetime.
And last I have to thank my mentor, brother, friend, coach, and confidant, Larry Brezner, the funniest, warmest, noblest, most talented and craziest man I ever knew. Thanks for always being my pal. I miss you so much Lar. God bless.