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William Campbell, my amazing editor, has challenged me to always do better and has not accepted any crap from me. Greg Simanson, my cover designer, and Kathryn Galán, my proofreader. Thank you all for all you guys did to make this happen.
Stuart Horwitz, the book architect, has given me the chance to sit there for hours and gossip about my characters like they are actual people—which was key to helping me understand them better and get their actions to make more sense. Your keen insight changed the course of this book for the better.
Susan Breen, my group leader at the Algonkian Pitch Conference, took a critical eye to this book. It’s always hard to know whether a novel is even interesting anymore, when the process to write it has taken five years. Thank you for your fine-tuning. Viva Group C: Celine Keating, and Nicole Waggoner, that means you!
And now for the family that helped, in one way or another, to make this book happen. Mom, you always said that I could do anything I set my mind to. I wish you were here to see me set my mind to this. I miss you every single day.
Dad and Ania, thanks for the extra encouragement just when I needed it.
Tina and Craig, your subtle little stocking-stuffer gifts to express your support helped keep me going. Best in-laws ever
I have an enormous quantity of siblings, nieces, and nephews—all of whom frequently asked, “So, how’s the book going?” and let me blather on about it. Just for that, you all get your names printed in a book. I love you all: Margaret, Bruce, Maya, Walter, Debbi, Janina, Robert, Grace, Christine, Rachael, Maddie, Spencer, Cassidy, Kaz, Melissa, Maggie, Krystian, Hali, Emily, Shawn, Cayden, Collin, and Alex.
To Sean Keene, thanks for keeping Todd occupied in the workshop all those winter weekends when I wanted to write. And thanks for letting me bounce plot ideas off of you and for being a spectacular friend in the process.
Glenn Turner, thank you for making me look and feel like a supermodel when you shot my photo. If weren’t for you and your magic camera I would have given up and used the photo on my driver’s license.
Jeremy Girard, thank you for your design expertise and keen insight for the awesome web site you made for me.
Nemo, thanks for providing the inspiration for Vito. Potter, thanks for demanding I get up from the chair and go out for a run.
To Todd, I could literally write a whole other book expressing my gratitude for you. You have no idea how much I appreciate your constant support for whatever hare-brained scheme I embark on. You are always the loudest voice in my cheering section. I meant it when I said that none of this would have ever happened without you.