ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I’m so lucky to have a team in my corner who are as talented as they are kind. My editor, Carolyn Williams, for guiding me forward with grace and insight, and for being the kind of champion every author hopes to find. My agent, Bridget Smith, for your ongoing belief in me and for always telling me when I can do better. Everyone at Doubleday who helped make this book a thousand times better and more beautiful: copyeditor Amy Ryan, cover designer Emily Mahon, cover artist Roberts Rurans, production editor Victoria Pearson, marketer Lindsay Mandel, publicist Tricia Cave, text designer Pei Koay, and production manager Peggy Samedi. Thank you for your effort, skill, and craft.

Extra-special thanks to three readers who godparented this book: Juan Martinez, who cheered me on through the ugly first draft and helped me find the joy again; Olesya Salnikova Gilmore, whose authenticity read sharpened the lens of this book in countless large and small ways; and Aubyn Keefe, whose friendship and legendary literary eye lifted me out of many pits of despair. A million thanks aren’t enough.

Thanks to Alissa Gulin, Ann Foster, Audrey Fierberg, Bridget Roche, Claire and Al Keefe, Colby Dockery, Dan Cabrera, Erika Carey, Jessica Ross, Katie Brill, Kim Ellsworth, Kristen Field, Lana Wood Johnson, Minh Nguyen, Molly Lyons, Nina Kryza, Sara Connell, and Val Utter for hyping me up, helping me weather the hard times, and unfailingly answering my horse questions. Squad goals, truly.

Thank you to the booksellers, librarians, reviewers, and readers who gave A Tip for the Hangman such a warm and generous welcome. I hope you love my second rectangular child as much as I do. She’s all yours.

Thanks to my siblings—Danielle, Adam, Jason, and Taylor—for rallying around my wild author adventure, and to the extended family for all your love and support. Thanks also to my cat Mina, who did not help with this book in any way.

Finally, my parents, for showing up at every virtual event, accepting that I’m never going to give that Rasputin biography back, making me laugh, and being the kind of people I aspire to be. I love you. Thank you.